Breaking news for Kentucky Wildcats: he is gone..
John Calipari had far too many people to thank individually from one of his most fruitful career chapters, and far too many memorable memories.
He took this opportunity to bid farewell.
In the midst of rumors that he is nearing an agreement with Arkansas to take over that Southeastern Conference program, Calipari announced his resignation as the men’s basketball coach at Kentucky on Tuesday after 15 years in office. He stated that the “program probably needs to hear another voice.”
In a video that he uploaded on X, the platform that was formerly known as Twitter, Calipari stated that he felt a change was necessary after speaking with his wife, Ellen. “We think it’s time for us to step away and step away completely from this, even though we’ve loved it here,” he continued.
Calipari departs from the Wildcats program, which he led to four Final Four appearances and the 2012 NCAA championship. In fifteen seasons, he was 410–123. By Kentucky standards, the team’s last three NCAA Tournament appearances have resulted in a 1-3 record, including first-round defeats to No. 14 Oakland last month and No. 15 Saint Peter’s two years prior.
Following their most recent defeat, the Wildcats received calls to remove Calipari. However, a few days later, athletic director Mitch Barnhart announced that Calipari will return for the upcoming campaign. A 10-year, so-called lifetime contract signed in 2019 would have required a buyout of more than $33 million in the event that Calipari was fired.
Kentucky will make every effort to appoint “a proven, highly dedicated coach who embraces the importance of this program to our fans and the state of Kentucky,” according to a statement released by Barnhart.
“We’re grateful that John Calipari has led our program for the last 15 years, adding to the legacy of championship success at Kentucky,” the AD continued. John has made several contributions to the university and the state, both on and off the court, for which we are thankful.
One person on the list of potential contenders is Scott Drew of Baylor, who led the Bears to a national championship in the 2020–21 COVID–19 season.Along with Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan, a former Kentucky assistant whose Florida teams were the previous NCAA back-to-back winners before UConn, there has also been mention of UConn’s Dan Hurley, who led the Huskies to their second consecutive NCAA championship.
Donovan reaffirmed his dedication to the Bulls and their pursuit of a postseason berth prior to Chicago’s Tuesday night game against the New York Knicks. He also stated that he has not received any communication from Kentucky.
He remarked, “I think a lot of this stuff turns out to be speculation sometimes.” “However, I haven’t spoken to anyone and I have obligations here.”
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Calipari made no mention of the Arkansas opening that has been associated with him since Sunday night, when a number of stories regarding talks with the school appeared. The Hall of Famer only stated, “As a family, we’re discussing the opportunities that have been presented to us.”
But Calipari’s announcement undoubtedly makes it easier for him to join the SEC foe that he became quite acquainted with while leading the Wildcats. Eric Musselman, who departed after four seasons to take a coaching position at Southern California, would be replaced by the 65-year-old.
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