John Calipari is poised to finalize a contract on Monday to assume the role of head coach at Arkansas, according to numerous reports coming out overnight. Discussions between Calipari and influential figures at Arkansas progressed significantly over the weekend, culminating in a verbal agreement between the school and Calipari by Sunday night. One source indicated that Calipari’s appointment as Arkansas’ coach is imminent.
Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart has said Calipari has not communicated with him, as of Sunday night, in regards to his discussions with Arkansas AD Hunter Yurachek about the job opening. Nonetheless, sources indicated that UK officials were informed through intermediaries over the weekend of Calipari’s exploration of Arkansas, and vice versa. The terms of Calipari’s contract with Kentucky mandate that he must notify Barnhart if he engages with another institution about a job interview.
The anticipated deal for Calipari is anticipated to span five years and offer compensation exceeding $8 million. Additionally, Arkansas’ prominent donors are expected to inject millions more into the program’s NIL collective, potentially establishing the program as a frontrunner in the sport with the largest pool of resources.
Having led the Wildcats program for the past 15 seasons, Calipari would continue within the SEC if he accepts the offer to succeed Eric Musselman, who recently assumed the vacant position at USC earlier this month.
Calipari, aged 65, assumed the role at Kentucky in 2009 after a nine-season stint at Memphis. He previously served as an assistant coach at Kansas (1982-85) and Pittsburgh (1985-88) before becoming the head coach at UMass from 1988-96. Calipari also ventured into the NBA realm, serving as the coach of the New Jersey Nets (now the Brooklyn Nets) from 1996-99 and spending one season as an assistant coach for the Philadelphia 76ers during the 1999-2000 season.
