In news that is sure to shake up the NCAA basketball landscape, University of Kentucky coach John Calipari is leaving the Wildcats after 15 seasons for a “massive” new deal to become the head coach at the University of Arkansas, per Shams Charania, Dana O’Neil and Kyle Tucker of The Athletic.
Arkansas has been searching for a new coach after Eric Musselman left for USC late last week.
“Razorbacks officials focused their head-coaching search on Calipari in recent days and intensified their pursuit over the weekend,” The Athletic wrote, citing sources.
Calipari’s deal with Arkansas will be for five years and is expected to be finalized soon, per Pete Thamel of ESPN.
Calipari led Kentucky to seven Elite Eights, four Final Fours, and the 2012 national title — though they were upset by Oakland (Mich.) in the first round of the NCAA tournament this year. He is under contract with Kentucky through the 2028-29 season, though he will not owe any money in a buyout scenario per The Athletic.
“The school would have owed $33 million to Calipari if he’d been fired after this season. That became a hot topic in Lexington after a second first-round NCAA Tournament exit in three years,” The Athletic wrote. “The Cats haven’t reached the second weekend since 2019, haven’t won an SEC title since 2020, and haven’t made a Final Four since 2015.”
Calipari first became a head coach in 1988 at Massachusetts, where he stayed until 1996. He then took over at Memphis in 2000, coaching the Tigers to the national championship game, where they blew a nine-point lead with 2:00 remaining in falling to Kansas.
Calipari coached the then-New Jersey Nets from 1996-98, compiling a 72-112 record. He was fired after 20 games of the 1998-99 season, with the Nets sporting a 3-17 record.
“This sudden mutual interest between Calipari and a new suitor in the same Southeastern Conference suggests Calipari, a 65-year-old Hall of Famer, ultimately believes a fresh start might be better for everyone,” The Athletic wrote.
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