Skip to main content

Report: John Calipari expected to make close to $8 million per season at Arkansas

Chandler Vesselsby:Chandler Vessels04/08/24

ChandlerVessels

cal (2)
Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports

The college basketball world received a big shock Sunday evening when it was reported that John Calipari would leave Kentucky for Arkansas. Now details about the coach’s new contract with the Razorbacks are starting to come out.

According to a report from Jeff Goodman, Calipari will receive around $7.5-8 million per season in Fayetteville. That is only slightly less than the $8.5 million per year he made as the Wildcats’ coach.

You can watch the tournament live on Prime Video, add on your favorite channels and watch at home or on your phone and laptop at work!

ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported earlier that Calipari signed a five-year contract with Arkansas. That would put the total value of the deal somewhere in the $37.5-40 million range.

Calipari is coming off a disappointing postseason in Lexington. Kentucky fell in its opening matchup against Texas A&M in the SEC Tournament. The team’s nightmare scenario only worsened when it lost to No. 14 seed Oakland in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Rumors began to swirl after that loss that Kentucky could be ready to move on from Calipari. Although the team ultimately opted to bring him back for another season, many believed that had more to do with his $34 million buyout instead of its belief in him.

Now, per KSR’s Matt Jones, neither Kentucky nor Arkansas will have to pay the hall-of-fame head coach’s buyout fee.

Top 10

  1. 1

    Updated SEC title game scenarios

    The path to the championship game is clear

  2. 2

    SEC refs under fire

    'Incorrect call' wipes Bama TD away

  3. 3

    'Fire Kelly' chants at LSU

    Death Valley disapproval of Brian Kelly

  4. 4

    Chipper Jones

    Braves legend fiercely defends SEC

    New
  5. 5

    Drinkwitz warns MSU

    Mizzou coach sounded off

View All

In Calipari’s 15 seasons at the helm of Kentucky, he amassed a 410-122 record, three Final Four appearances in 2011, 2014 and 2015 and a national title in 2012. However, the Wildcats had won just one NCAA Tournament game in the past five seasons and the fan base was beginning to grow restless.

John Calipari is set to take over for Eric Musselman, who left Arkansas this offseason to become the coach at USC. The Razorbacks are coming off of a 16-17 season after making the NCAA Tournament the three seasons prior.

Now the interesting thing becomes the Wildcats’ head coaching search and whether any of Calipari’s incoming recruits at Kentucky follow him to Arkansas. UK currently has the No. 2 recruiting class in the 2024 cycle according to the On3 Industry Team Rankings. It is a six-player class led by five-star center Jayden Quaintance, the No. 8 player in the country.

Arkansas will be the fourth program for Calipari, who also had stints at Massachusetts and Memphis before joining Kentucky in 2009-10.