John Calipari is saying goodbye to Kentucky after 15 seasons.
The longtime school basketball coach pulled off a surprising transfer late Sunday evening as he plans to go away Kentucky to affix Arkansas, in response to The Athletic. Calipari is anticipated to obtain a five-year deal to change into the following head coach of the Razorbacks, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Calipari was on rocky floor with Kentucky after getting upset by Oakland within the first spherical of the NCAA Event final month. It was the second time the Wildcats misplaced within the first spherical within the final three years. The Wildcats might have fired Calipari, however it might have price them $33 million, The Athletic reported.
The success Calipari loved with Kentucky — seven Elite Eight appearances, 4 Remaining Fours and profitable the 2012 nationwide title — dried up as of late. The Wildcats are 1-3 within the NCAA Event since 2022 and haven’t made it previous the primary weekend since 2019. Kentucky missed the match fully in 2021.
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Calipari’s connection to Arkansas comes within the type of John Tyson, who’s a “billionaire inheritor to the Tyson Meals empire and a serious Arkansas booster,” and is taken into account to be a “longtime good friend” of Calipari, in response to The Athletic.
Calipari completed his tenure at Kentucky with a 410-123 document and takes over an Arkansas workforce that posted a 16-17 document this previous season.