John Calipari Set to Become Next Arkansas Razorbacks' Coach, Sources Say

Calipari Reportedly Set to Take Over as Arkansas' Coach

After intense negotiations between Kentucky coach John Calipari and Arkansas officials, it appears that Calipari is on the verge of becoming the next Razorbacks' coach, as per information shared with CBS Sports' Matt Norlander this past Sunday. According to the source, Calipari's appointment as the Arkansas coach is "imminent."

Missing Notification

Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart informed CBS Sports that Calipari had not informed him about discussions with Arkansas AD Hunter Yurachek regarding the potential of becoming the next Arkansas coach. Nonetheless, sources revealed that UK officials have been made aware of the discussions, since Calipari's contract terms dictate that he must inform Kentucky if he engages with another institution about a job interview.

Major Commitment from Tyson Family

Reports suggested that the Tyson family, Arkansas' principal donor, is ready to make a substantial commitment to secure Calipari, who has had a close relationship with the Tyson family for many years. Calipari, who has led the Wildcats program for the past 15 seasons, is highly likely to remain in the SEC to succeed Eric Musselman, who recently accepted the vacant position at USC.

Calipari's Background

At 65 years old, Calipari took the reins at Kentucky in 2009 following a nine-season stint at Memphis. Prior to that, he had served as an assistant coach at Kansas (1982-1995) and Pittsburgh (1985-1988), and held the head coaching position at UMass from 1988 to 1996. Calipari also ventured into the NBA world, coaching the New Jersey Nets (now the Brooklyn Nets) from 1996 to 1999, and serving as an assistant coach for the Philadelphia 76ers during the 1999-2000 season.

Previous Discussions with Kentucky

News of Calipari's talks with Arkansas surfaced weeks after his meeting with Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart. It was previously concluded that Calipari would continue for his 16th season with the program. Barnhart confirmed, "As we normally do at the end of every season, Coach Calipari and I have had conversations about the direction of our men's basketball program and I can confirm that he will return for his 16th season as our head coach," following a meeting last month.

Recent Performance of the Wildcats

The Wildcats' season culminated in a loss to No. 14 seed Oakland in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. This marked the third consecutive season that Kentucky failed to progress to the second weekend of the tournament. Their absence was notable in 2021, where they fell to Saint Peter's, and in the two seasons prior, where they lost to Kansas State, respectively.

Calipari's Legacy at Kentucky

During his 15-year tenure at Kentucky, Calipari amassed a 410-122 record, boasting four Final Four appearances (2011, 2012, 2014, and 2015) and coaching Kentucky's most recent national championship team in 2012. Known for his exceptional high school recruiting skills, Calipari managed to secure the No. 1 overall recruiting class in the 2023 cycle, featuring standout talents such as Reed Sheppard, Rob Dillingham, Justin Edwards, D.J. Wagner, and Aaron Bradshaw.

Arkansas' Coaching Vacancy

The coaching position at Arkansas became available after Musselman departed to assume the role of the former USC coach Andy Enfield, who moved to the vacant job at SMU. Musselman's departure followed a five-season stint with Arkansas, during which he guided the team to two Elite Eight appearances and one Sweet 16 entry.

Razorbacks' Recent Performance

The Razorbacks concluded the recent season with a 16-17 record and a 6-12 standing in the SEC, failing to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the first time during Musselman's tenure. Notably, several Arkansas players, including Tramon Mark, Khalif Battle, and Davonte Davis, have already entered the transfer portal.