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Ladies first.

Approximately 550 mothers, daughters, grandmothers and sisters got the first official introduction to the 2011-12 Kentucky basketball team at the 2011 Coach Calipari Women’s Clinic on Sunday at the Memorial Coliseum/Joe Craft Center complex.

Hosting a record turnout, Calipari and his staff treated the women with an introduction to the team, guided them through drills with hands-on instruction, gave out prizes and let them watch an hour of practice.

“As usual, only at Kentucky,” Calipari said. “Only at Kentucky would 550 or more women show up for a clinic and want to be put through drills and want to see us practice and want to learn about the Dribble Drive so they can critique me throughout the year. This is the largest women’s clinic in the world. It will be in the Guinness Book of World Records next year.”

The Kentucky staff interacted with women from all over the country. Coach Cal said he met ladies from Tennessee, Indiana, Iowa and North Carolina. Some women drove 12 hours just to attend the clinic.

“They’re all here,” Calipari said. “It’s what makes Kentucky so unique. There is no place else that you can do something to this level. The biggest thing is I wanted them to all have fun, to enjoy themselves.”

And enjoy themselves they did.

“I got to meet everybody,” said Mary Frolich of Crestwood, Ky. “I love it. I think (UK) should do this every year.”

Before the clinic began, during registration, players and coaches were available for autographs and pictures. There were so many autograph seekers that maneuvering through the Joe Craft Center basement was nearly impossible.

Assistant coach John Robic was one of the stars of the 2011 Coach Calipari Women's Clinic.

“I’m the biggest fan of Coach Cal and the players,” said Leigh Ann Williams, who made a three-plus hour drive from Flatgap, Ky., to attend the clinic. “It’s awesome to see that they’re normal people, the same as we are. They’re real down to earth.”

Coach Cal, with a line that went across the Memorial Coliseum concourse and out the door, signed hundreds upon hundreds of autographs.

“They have the mother, the grandmother, the daughter taking pictures together,” Calipari said. “They’re all here. It’s what makes Kentucky so unique. There is no place else that you can do something to this level.”

Once the clinic officially began, assistant coach John Robic, Calipari and special guest Josh Hopkins – from the hit ABC show “Cougar Town” – spoke to the crowd for about 15 minutes. Calipari thanked the fans for attending and outlined his goals and expectations for the season. He even called out a fan for pinching his behind.

When Hopkins took the microphone, he marveled at the job Calipari has done and said Coach Cal has been the perfect ambassador for the university.

“He’s such a forward thinker,” Hopkins said. “The way he blends the community and basketball, he’s inspirational to me. He should maybe run for office.”

For Hopkins, who helped push the popularity of the John Wall Dance when he did a rendition of it on his show, the experience was a dream come true. He’s a Lexington native and self-described diehard Kentucky fan.

“It’s not a bad deal for me,” Hopkins said. “I come in here and I get to see all the players and watch them practice with 550 women. That’s not a bad gig at all. It’s a blessing and it’s fun.”

Although he’s s star in the minds of the 550 women in attendance, the clinic was just as big of a thrill for him as it was for them. He said he tried to sneak away a couple of times to get his own pictures with players.

“To feel like I’m getting an inside look at the backstage at the University of Kentucky basketball team, I love it,” Hopkins said. “Any inside info I can get, just watching the players shoot, I love it.”

Hopkins helped FOX’s Jennifer Palumbo emcee the player introductions before the women split up into three groups for hands-on instruction and a Q and A sesssion with the players and staff.

“I got pulled out and made a fool of myself but I had fun,” Williams said. “I don’t remember the exact play, but I could tell you how to do it and I could demonstrate it.”

In addition to a free meal and autographs, many of the women walked away with prizes in hand, thanks to Cane’s, Pieratt’s, the Dribble Driveway Kit, H 2, Fayette Heating & Air, the K Fund, the University of Kentucky Bookstore, Kennedy Bookstore, Rafferty’s, Fan Outfitters, Tropical Smoothie and Jimmy John’s.

Coach Cal ended the clinic by running his team through a typical one-hour practice.

Asked what her favorite part of the clinic was, Frolich, a first-time Women’s Clinic attendee, had a difficult time choosing just one thing.

“My favorite part is Kentucky basketball,” Frolich said. “I live, eat and breathe Kentucky basketball.”

Check back later this week for a video of the Women’s Clinic.