NCAA John Calipari officially named new Arkansas coach
The University of Arkansas announced Wednesday morning that John Calipari has officially been hired as the Razorbacks’ men’s basketball coach.
Calipari stepped down as head coach at Kentucky after 15 years Tuesday, posting a video on social media confirming his decision to move on from the Wildcats following days of speculation that he would be taking the Arkansas job.
The former UK coach has signed a five-year contract with Arkansas with a $7 million annual salary. The contract runs through the end of the 2028-29 season, though it includes a maximum of two automatic rollover years for NCAA Tournament appearances that would extend the deal to seven years, through the end of the 2030-31 season.
By that time, Calipari would be 72 years old.
The deal also includes a $1 million signing bonus and features retention bonuses of $500,000 for each year of the contract, as well as separate bonuses that will be based on postseason results — onetime payments for making the NCAA Tournament, reaching the second round, Sweet 16, Final Four and winning a national championship.
Arkansas did not provide specific details on the monetary amount of those postseason bonuses.
Calipari had five years and $44.5 million remaining on his Kentucky contract.
“We’ve loved it here, but we think it’s time for us to step away. And step away completely from the program,” Calipari said in his video message Tuesday. “There have been opportunities that have been presented to us, so we’re discussing them as a family.
“I love coaching. I love coaching young people. I loved this year’s team. I loved every day walking in. They invigorated me. I love the chase for championships. I love bringing the kids together. It’s what I do. It’s who I am.”
Calipari will replace Eric
Musselman, who spent five seasons in charge of the Razorbacks’ program. Musselman led the Hogs to two Elite Eight appearances in his tenure but left Fayetteville last week to take the head coaching position at Southern Cal.
In 15 seasons with the Wildcats’ program, Calipari led the team to four Final Fours and the 2012 NCAA championship, though Kentucky has not played in the national semifinals since 2015.
“By all accounts, John Calipari is one of the premier coaches in college basketball,” Arkansas athletics director Hunter Yurachek said in a statement Wednesday morning. “A national championship coach, a four-time national coach of the year and one of the nation’s top recruiters, Coach Cal has consistently demonstrated his ability to attract outstanding talent and build championship teams within the Southeastern Conference and position his programs among the best in the nation.