Arkansas hires Calipari after coach departs Kentucky

FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. — Arkansas hired John Calipari as men’s basketball coach Wednesday, a day after the Hall of Fame coach stepped down from the Kentucky program he led to the 2012 NCAA championship.

Hunter Yurachek, Arkansas vice chancellor and director of athletics, announced Calipari’s hiring in a release. Calipari signed a five-year contract with a base annual salary of $7 million through April 2029 with a maximum of two automatic rollover years for NCAA Tournament appearances that would extend the contract to 2031.

The deal includes a $1 million signing bonus and features retention bonuses of $500,000 each year of the contract along with one-time bonuses for making the NCAA Tournament, reaching the second round, Sweet 16, Final Four and winning a national championship.

An introductory news conference was scheduled for Wednesday evening in Fayetteville.

Calipari, 65, replaces Eric Musselman and inherits a program that went 16-17 last season after three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including the Sweet 16 a year ago.

Calipari stepped down at Kentucky after 15 years Tuesday, saying the “program probably needs to hear another voice.” Calipari posted a video on X in which he said that after talking with his wife, he decided a change was needed. He added, “We’ve loved it here, but we think it’s time for us to step away and step away completely from the program.”

Calipari leaves a Wildcats program he guided to the 2012 NCAA championship among four Final Four appearances. He went 410-123 in 15 seasons.

JAMES CRISP/AP 2021 John Calipari stepped down Tuesday as Kentucky’s men’s basketball coach after 15 years and was hired Wednesday to lead Arkansas’ program. Calipari went 410-123 with the Wildcats and won the 2012 NCAA championship.