How it started: Even before Calipari became a head coaching rival for Chaney, they crossed paths on the recruiting trail. As an assistant at Pitt, Calipari got a commitment from Philly star Brian Shorter as a high school junior, then sent him to Oak Hill Academy for his senior year. The tension escalated when Calipari got to UMass and it became the Atlantic 10’s premier program. Chaney did not react well to the quick success Calipari experienced. They almost came to blows in 1990 when Temple won a triple-overtime game at UMass.
What often gets forgotten about that 1994 incident is why Chaney crashed Cal’s press conference. Upset about the officiating that night, Calipari dressed down the three referees who worked the game and A-10 commissioner Ron Bertovich as they walked off the floor. Chaney later said what set him off was that he got “blasted” for complaining about the officiating one week earlier against West Virginia. Chaney served a one-game suspension imposed by the school.

and Chaney was sticking up for them.