Sports are so deeply ingrained in American culture that it only feels natural for a pipeline to politics to emerge, for better or worse.
A large part of being a college coach is politicking, whether that’s maintaining relationships with boosters and recruits or getting up to the podium and delivering stump speeches at press conferences every week. Some Arkansas fans liked to joke that recently fired football coach Sam Pittman’s lovable personality could have made him a hell of a governor, and Razorback basketball coach John Calipari’s polished speeches and fancy suits certainly give the appearance of a seasoned politician.