John Calipari in DC to support Trump's pick for ambassador to Canada

Fletcher Page

Courier Journal

Mar 4, 2017; College Station, TX, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari reacts after a play during the first half against the Texas A&M Aggies at Reed Arena.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — John Calipari is in the nation's Capitol this week to support a longtime friend and donor to the University of Kentucky in her bid to become the U.S. ambassador to Canada.

He announced his visit in a cryptic tweet on Thursday:

"Well I'm in D.C. getting ready to go to the Capitol, (to) do some special things. Have a great day."

Calipari later clarified that he is in Washington, D.C., to support President Donald Trump's pick for ambassador to Canada: Kelly Knight Craft.

Knight Craft will testify Thursday before the Senate committee on foreign relations. Her appointment must be approved by the Senate.

Knight Craft, of Lexington, is a member of the UK board of trustees. In 2007, she was appointed by President George W. Bush as a member of the U.S. delegation to the United Nation’s General Assembly.

Background:Kelly Knight Craft could get appointment as Ambassador to Canada

"I'm so happy for Kelly Knight Craft and this opportunity for her and Joe Craft as she gets set to become the American ambassador to Canada," Calipari said via social media last month. "I've known Kelly for a long time. She has an unbelievable ability to connect with people on both sides of the table. She'll do a great job representing our country with a very important ally."

Calipari's presence in D.C. continues his support for the Craft family, who are longtime donors to the university.

Knight Craft is a native of Glasgow and graduate of the University of Kentucky.

Her husband, Joe, is the president and CEO of Alliance Resource Partners.

The Crafts are major Republican donors both within Kentucky and nationally. They supported Trump’s election last fall and were later appointed as finance vice-chairs to Trump’s inaugural committee.

Joe Craft made the largest private donation in UK athletics' history when he gifted millions earlier this decade for the men's and women's basketball training facility, which is named the Joe Craft Center.

He also contributed to the $45 million,100,000-square-foot UK football facility that opened in July 2016. It is named the Joe Craft Football Training Facility.