Longtime Kentucky coach John Calipari is reportedly in negotiations to potentially leave and take the men's basketball coaching job at Arkansas, according to multiple outlets. Arkansas officials have been in discussions with Calipari about the opening, with reports suggesting he is finalizing a five-year deal.
The 65-year-old Hall of Fame coach has spent the last 15 seasons at Kentucky. Despite calls for his firing following the Wildcats’ recent early exit from the NCAA Tournament, Athletic director Mitch Barnhart confirmed that Calipari would return for his 16th season as head coach.
Kentucky, seeded third in March Madness, suffered an 80-76 defeat to No. 14 seed Oakland in the first round. This loss marked the Wildcats’ third consecutive early exit from the tournament, prompting criticism of Calipari's coaching strategies, particularly his reliance on one-and-done freshmen and defensive weaknesses.
Calipari's tenure at Kentucky has been marked by success, including the 2012 national championship and three other Final Four appearances. His teams have reached the NCAA Tournament 12 times during his tenure.
Under the terms of a lifetime contract signed in 2019, Calipari's dismissal would trigger a $33 million buyout, but there is no buyout if he leaves for another job. Calipari has an impressive overall record of 813-260 in 32 seasons as a college head coach, with previous coaching stints at UMass and Memphis.
Eric Musselman, who coached Arkansas for the past five years, recently left to become the head coach at Southern California. Calipari and Barnhart have had discussions about the direction of the Kentucky men's basketball program, with Barnhart expressing support and a commitment to helping Calipari achieve success moving forward.
