John Calipari on potential retirement: 'I want to help like 30 more families'

Some might have thought that John Calipari was closer to choosing retirement than another job towards the end of his tenure at Kentucky. Instead, he’s just as ecstatic as ever about his next opportunity, especially with it hopefully allowing him to continue to change the lives of his players.

Calipari discussed eventually retiring from coaching during an appearance on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ on Wednesday. He acknowledged that he has thought about it and that he has several somewheres that he can go off into the sunset to.

“Yeah, well, yeah,” Calipari said about considering his eventual retirement. “I don’t know how long that will be. But, you know, I’ve always tried to be ahead. I know – I got a couple places so that, when I’m done, I don’t have to, like, stay somewhere. I can go where I need to go.”

However, Calipari still has more to give to the game and, in turn, his players. He wants to continue his efforts in impacting their lives through many ways, especially in the NBA Draft. While more victories and titles would be nice and all, focusing on the future’s of them and their families will, in his mind, lead to that anyways.

“What I don’t want on my tombstone is wins and championships. Just that he helped a lot of families,” Calipari said. “So I would tell you – I want to help like 30 more families and then I’ll be done. If I do this right, all that other stuff that the fans want, that I want, all the winning and the (championships), that happens if we’re helping a bunch of families.”

“As long as I’m helping young people, we’re helping families, and changing lives that way, I kind of get inspired. Like, I’ll be at the draft tonight. ‘Why do you go?’ – it’s graduation night! I’m going to go watch the students walk across that stage,” said Calipari. “I get a hug. That’s part of the deal. You’re coming with me but, when you get up on that stage, I better get a hug somewhere.”

This approach is one that Calipari has long adopted and since perfected over his time at UK. As of last night in round one of the 2024 NBA Draft, he has had 49 players selected over the past decade and a half, including 37 in the opening round, 25 in the lottery, and three at No. 1. That has since led to some very notable pro careers and, with those, billions of dollars worth of contracts.

It became clear that Calipari’s time in Lexington likely needed to end this offseason. Still, with that desire still within him, he wants to continue to produce life-changing results for his players and their loved ones, except this time for the next few years at Arkansas.

“Look, I’ve had a ball doing it,” said Calipari. “I wasn’t ready to stop but I was ready to – let me get this thing going. Fifteen unbelievable years, great friends, won a lot of games, did a lot of stuff. I’m just as excited about doing this now and let’s see where this goes.

“None of us know. You don’t know whether you’re going to win or lose until you win or lose. So I’m not worried about it. All I’m doing is let me keep preparing these kids.”