Three Reasons Why Arkansas Is Attractive To Calipari

Wildcats in disbelief sitting head coach would up and leave for Razorbacks

Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari prior to the game against Eric Musselman's Arkansas Razorbacks in 2022. / Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- The Arkansas Razorbacks' head coaching job has often been thought of as a great opportunity for the right coach. That was no more apparent than the 1970's through 1990's under Eddie Sutton and Nolan Richardson.

Spending the next two decades in college basketball obscurity, Mike Anderson took the Razorbacks from the depths of Hades, also known as the John Pelphrey era, and made the job mildly attractive again.

After only three tournament appearances in eight seasons, things became stagnant. It took hiring coaching journeyman Eric Musselman to revive a program on life support. Now, John Calipari is given the keys to Razorback basketball with hopes of national championships to come.

This is the type of hire which tilts the college basketball world off its axis. Things begin to rotate backward and recruits start to look at Arkansas in a different light than before. While a move to Arkansas from Kentucky doesn't make sense to a lot of folks around the country, it definitely shouldn't surprise those around the state.

Arkansas' Strong Resources

For many years, the state of Arkansas athletics' lack of success was questioned due to so many Fortune 500 companies residing inside the state. While Tyson, Walmart and JB Hunt are three of the wealthiest corporations, Stephens Inc., Simmons Bank and other central Arkansas companies shouldn't be dismissed either.

Calipari's potential hiring at Arkansas was aided by his relationship with billionaire John Tyson. The Natural State's legendary chicken provider has helped fund his friend's reported $8.5 million per year contract along with an expected $6 million annual NIL package. That should help recruit his signees at Kentucky who decide to join him in Fayetteville should they choose to void their letter of intent.

Raiding top prospects in the transfer portal will be vital for Arkansas and Calipari as they draft the NIL budget. As the college game evolves, Arkansas' new coach must realize talented freshman classes don't take a team far in March. Fayetteville has been a destination for transfers under Musselman and must continue.

Fan Support

Not many schools support their basketball program like the Razorbacks. Arkansas is now a basketball school with the hire of Calipari and there is simply no turning back as they pay him $3 million more than current football coach Sam PIttman.

Being a basketball school will be embraced by Razorbacks fans even more now that they have a Hall of Fame coach running the program. Arkansas fans fill Bud Walton Arena even when the Hogs are moderately successful. The addition of Calipari brings an expectation of filling Bud Walton from Night 1, which is something not every hire would generate.

Exceptional Facilites

Along with Bud Walton, Arkansas also has a state-of-the-art practice facility named after legendary coach Eddie Sutton. The facility includes two full-court gymnasiums, locker rooms, a weight room, an athletic training room, coaches’ offices, team meeting rooms, a student-athlete lounge, study areas and an equipment room.

With the name of the game being NIL, Arkansas not only boasts elite level facilities for development, but also NIL capabilities for potential players. A marriage between Calipari and the Razorbacks may not be perfect. It may not result in national championships. However, what it does is at least create fear into the lives of teams in the SEC and around the country.

Winning History

Musselman started to awaken a sleeping giant in college basketball with three deep NCAA Tournament runs. Now, Calipari is tasked with feeding the monster with possible Final Fours and championships. Things grew stale for Kentucky over the past few years, so maybe a change of scenery will do him good.

The Razorbacks have experienced plenty of success all-time to be considered a prominent job. Despite not winning multiple national titles, the accolades are still there with the eleventh most Final Four appearances all-time (six) and one of 37 other schools to win a title.

ESPN's Pete Thamel might have summarized the Arkansas-Calipari relationship best Monday morning.

“Arkansas needed a reboot. Arkansas needed an adrenaline jolt. And John Calipari is going to give them that. Big recruits will follow and winning will follow… And John Calipari gets to go to a proud program with Final Four and national championship pedigree and resell his vision, and resell his image, and resell his brand to a completely new audience that is hungry to win.”

- Pete Thamel, ESPN

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