LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Longtime Kentucky coach John Calipari was in negotiations to probably depart and take the boys’s basketball teaching job at Arkansas, a number of shops reported late Sunday.
Arkansas officers have been in discussions with Calipari in regards to the opening, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported, citing nameless sources. ESPN, additionally citing nameless sources, reported that Calipari is finalizing a five-year deal.
The 65-year-old Corridor of Fame coach has spent the final 15 seasons at Kentucky. Athletic director Mitch Barnhart not too long ago mentioned Calipari would return, regardless of requires his firing following the Wildcats’ third consecutive early exit from the NCAA Event.
Kentucky was seeded third in March Insanity, however fell 80-76 to No. 14 seed Oakland within the first spherical. This newest loss in Pittsburgh got here a 12 months after the Wildcats had been ousted within the second spherical, and two years after they had been upset as a No. 2 seed by Fifteenth-seeded Saint Peter’s of their NCAA opener.
Kentucky’s fast exit drew fast requires Calipari’s firing on sports activities speak exhibits and social media, with many criticizing his reliance on so-called “one and carried out” freshmen and Kentucky’s defensive weaknesses. Calipari’s dismissal would’ve triggered a $33 million buyout beneath phrases of a lifetime contract signed in 2019; there isn’t a buyout if he leaves for an additional job.
Calipari has a 410-122 report at Kentucky, together with the 2012 nationwide championship and three different Remaining 4 appearances (2011, 2014 and 2015 ). His groups have reached the match 12 instances in all.
“As we usually do on the finish of each season, Coach Calipari and I’ve had conversations in regards to the path of our males’s basketball program and I can affirm that he’ll return for his sixteenth season as our head coach,” Barnhart mentioned 5 days after the loss to Oakland.
Calipari and Barnhart met privately after the season ended.
“That’s a part of athletics and coping with that, making an attempt to get higher, making an attempt to determine how will we do that collectively,” Calipari mentioned, in keeping with the Democrat-Gazette. “What do we have to do? I feel one of many issues that I’ve mentioned in regards to the assembly was Mitch saying, ‘How can I show you how to? What can we do that will help you get the place you’re making an attempt to get this factor?’ And we talked about three or 4 issues, however that’s while you’re teaching.”
Total, Calipari has an 813-260 report in 32 seasons as a university head coach. He led UMass to the 1996 Remaining 4 and in addition spent greater than two seasons as coach of the New Jersey Nets earlier than returning to the school ranks at Memphis.
Eric Musselman spent the final 5 years as Arkansas coach earlier than leaving final week to change into Southern California’s coach.
