Reportedly, John Calipari, the head coach at Kentucky, is set to leave the program. ESPN’s Pete Thamel disclosed that Calipari is finalizing a five-year agreement to lead Arkansas’ basketball team.
Calipari’s new deal is anticipated to offer a base salary slightly lower than his Kentucky earnings of $8.5 million.
However, incentives included in the contract could potentially surpass his previous salary, as reported by Thamel and ESPN’s Jeff Borzello.
This development follows earlier reports by Matt Norlander of CBS Sports, who revealed serious discussions between Calipari and Arkansas.
Kentucky had been informed of these discussions, complying with Calipari’s contract, which stipulates notification to the university when exploring potential job opportunities with other schools.
Norlander highlighted that the Tyson family, Arkansas’ major donor, was ready to make a substantial commitment to facilitate Calipari’s hiring.
Calipari’s close relationship with the Tyson family and optimistic boosters further fueled expectations for his hiring.
Thamel and Borzello pointed out that Calipari was the second-highest-paid head coach nationally.
Jeff Goodman of The Field of 68 reported Calipari’s keen interest in the Arkansas position, with sources suggesting he’s been discontented in Lexington amidst Kentucky’s recent struggles and fan backlash. It seems the Razorbacks successfully convinced him to seek a change.
During his 15-year tenure at Kentucky, Calipari amassed a 410-123 record, securing four Final Fours and one national championship.
However, the Wildcats haven’t advanced past the NCAA tournament’s second round since 2019, suffering a notable upset to Oakland in the 2024 tournament’s first round.
Arkansas sought a new head coach following Eric Musselman’s departure, who accepted the head coaching role at USC.
The Razorbacks are poised to embark on a new era under Calipari, a Hall of Famer and one of college basketball’s elite coaches.
