Barbee played under Calipari at Massachusetts and served nine years as his assistant there and at Memphis. He is 131-127 overall as a head coach, but was 49-75 in four years at Auburn before being fired in March. He also coached four seasons at UTEP.
Barbee will handle administrative duties formerly held by Strickland, who left Kentucky to become an assistant under former Wildcats staffer Orlando Antigua at South Florida.
Calipari said Friday of Barbee in a release that he's "thrilled with the knowledge and experience he brings to this program." Barbee said he's "excited to reconnect with my coach, mentor and friend, coach Cal."
