John Calipari was in his hotel room in Phoenix when his friend, John H. Tyson, reached out to discuss an important decision regarding the coaching search at the University of Arkansas. Tyson, the billionaire chairman of Tyson Foods and a major donor at Arkansas, wanted to get Calipari’s input after Eric Musselman left for the USC job. They met with Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek in Calipari’s room on the eve of the Final Four to discuss potential candidates to replace Musselman.
Yurachek suggested to Calipari that he should consider the job, and negotiations began shortly thereafter. Calipari’s attorney, Tom Mars, reached out to him about the job, and a formal term sheet expressing interest was sent to Calipari by Saturday morning. While grappling with the end of his successful run at Kentucky, Calipari was drawn to the opportunity at Arkansas.
After a weekend of negotiations, Calipari and Arkansas were close to finalizing an agreement. Calipari signed a five-year, $38.5 million contract with Arkansas, with potential for extensions and bonuses based on NCAA Tournament appearances. The deal also included a substantial NIL fund to support Calipari’s needs.
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There was minimal contact between Calipari and Kentucky officials during this process, as Arkansas quickly engaged him and he made his decision. The strained relationship between Calipari and Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart played a significant role in Calipari’s departure. The disagreement over program support and facilities led to Calipari feeling unsupported and ultimately seeking a new opportunity.
Calipari’s move to Arkansas represents a significant change in college basketball, with the Hall of Fame coach bringing his winning track record and star power to a program eager to return to the Final Four.
“I’ve done this a few times in my career and the biggest thing I’m trying to create is the love affair between this program and the campus,” Calipari said. “This program, Northwest Arkansas, this whole state, you’re trying to create a love affair. That means the kind of kids we’re recruiting, great kids that want to be involved in the community.”
Calipari’s departure from Kentucky after 15 seasons was driven by a desire for a fresh start and a supportive environment, which he found in Arkansas. The quick negotiations and agreement reflected Calipari’s confidence in the new opportunity and his excitement for the future.
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Calipari’s decision to leave Kentucky for Arkansas was a result of various factors, including strained relationships and a desire for a new challenge. His move to Arkansas has generated excitement and anticipation for the future of the program under his leadership.
“The negotiations were 15 minutes of me looking at it and saying, it needs to be like this, okay with this,” Calipari said. “It was just: Do we want this? That’s how it went. It happened in a total of three days.”
Calipari’s departure from Kentucky signifies the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter at Arkansas, where he aims to build a successful and impactful program.
“(Photo illustration: John Bradford / The Athletic; Photo: Jared C. Tilton / Getty)
