Wildcats fans may have noticed someone familiar at the game against Mississippi State, Scott Padgett. Although he is a well-known figure to the Wildcat fans, Padgett was an assistant coach for the Miss State.
Padgett got his coaching start at Kentucky, where he played his college ball, as a graduate assistant in John Calipari’s first season in Lexington. The Louisville native joined the team at Mississippi State in August of 2022 and has since been working hard to help the team achieve their goals. He has an impressive coaching career under his belt, having worked at Manhattan College and spending time on the staff at the University of New Mexico. Additionally, he was also known as Coach Padgett at Samford University for 6 years, where he helped the team achieve one of its best seasons in for the program.
Padgett wrapped his UK career by joining the Thousand Point Club with 1,252 total points and ranked 30th in rebounds with 651. He has been in the coaching profession for more than a decade, having spent a season on the staff at New Mexico before his time with Manhattan and Mississippi State.
In the game against his alma mater, Kentucky, Padgett was in a unique position, trying to help Mississippi State secure a victory. Although he played a crucial role in Kentucky’s historic 1998 championship run, Padgett was now working on the other side of the court. Mississippi State eventually lost the game to Kentucky, but Padgett’s valuable contribution to the Bulldogs’ coaching staff continues to make a difference.
