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Stunning Reports: Kentucky's Calipari in Talks to Come to Razorbacks Replacing Musselmal

In a story no one saw coming a few weeks ago, stunning deal close to being finalized for new person taking over Hogs

Jacob Davis

Kentucky Wildcats coach John Calipari from the sidelines in game against the Arkansas Razorbacks on Jan. 27, 2024, at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Ark.
Kentucky Wildcats coach John Calipari from the sidelines in game against the Arkansas Razorbacks on Jan. 27, 2024, at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Ark. / Andy Hodges-allHOGS Images

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas athletics director Hunter Yurachek may have stolen sitting Kentucky head coach John Calipari for the Razorbacks' coaching vacancy, first reported by Wess Moore of FOX16 in Little Rock. After the initial reports, the story picked up momentum throughout Sunday evening.

The Razorbacks lost former coach Eric Musselman to USC Thursday following a 16-17 season and now is reportedly finalizing a five-year deal with Calipari to become the school's next head coach, per Pete Thamel of ESPN.

Due to terms in Calipari's Kentucky contract, Arkansas will not owe the Wildcats a single penny as there is no buyout with him leaving for the Razorbacks job opening. It also benefits Big Blue as they don't have to pay out the remaining amount of his contract.


Negotiations are far from over, according to Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's Bob Holt.


The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported late Saturday evening that Mississippi State coach Chris Jans and Little Rock's Darrell Walker were set to interview Sunday. By the afternoon hours, Calipari's name was gaining steam as a possible candidate for the Razorbacks' opening but nothing was concrete. With the report of Calipari venturing into contract negotiations with Arkansas' athletic department the one contract stipulation required for things to escalate was for him to inform his current employer of his intentions which Kentucky consented to, according to Matt Norlander of CBS Sports.

In recent years, the Razorbacks experienced a basketball revival of sorts with two Elite Eight appearances after a drought from 1996-2020. Musselman led the Razorbacks to an upset of overall No. 1 seed Gonzaga in the 2022 tournament and another upset of No. 1 Auburn during the regular season. Arkansas also defeated No. 1 seed Kansas during last seasons' NCAA Tournament to advance to its third consecutive Sweet Sixteen.

Calipari is one of the all-time great coaches in college basketball. He has recorded an overall record of 813-260 at the collegiate level with three different programs. The 65-year-old received his first head job with the UMass Minuteman way back in 1988 and served there for eight seasons. During his time in Amherst, he produced two NBA Draft selections in Marcus Camby and Lou Roe while also signing McDonald's All-American Donta Bright.

Known for his elite recruiting skills, Memphis hired Calipari away following a stint with the New Jersey Nets from 1996-1999 and Philadephia 76ers from 1999-2000. The NBA experience set him apart from many in the college basketball realm as he knew what NBA scouts, coaches and general managers wanted in prospects. Derek Rose, Tyreke Evans, Dajuan Wagner, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Shawne Roberts and many more blue-chip prospects flocked to west Tennessee to be tutuored by Calipari.

Once hired at Kentucky, Calipari strung together top signing one after another. He added to an already extensive list of NBA players with John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Eric Gordon and Daniel Orton. His first team finished 35-3 with a loss in the Elite Eight to West Virginia during the 2010 NCAA Tournament. Brandon Knight, Terrance Jones and Doron Lamb were able to push Kentucky to its first Final Four since 1998 but ultimately fell to eventual National Champion UConn.

The Wildcats finally won its first National Championship under Calipari in 2012 with an all-time great team which included Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrest and Marquis Teague. They finished the season with a 38-1 record overall and came away unscathed in conference play.

Since the national title, Calipari has only led his team to two other Final Four appearances in 2014 and 2015. The Wildcats went to the second weekend of the tournament three consecutive seasons from 2017-2019. However, the program has come up short over the past three seasons with two first round exits and an upset in the second round which drew unrest from Kentucky faithful.

Arkansas has a chance to continue its run of March success while also gaining emphasis to what happens in the regular season. Calipari led Kentucky to six regular season SEC titles, six SEC Tournament Championships and was awarded conference coach of the year honors from Birmingham on four occasions.

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Jacob Davis
JACOB DAVIS

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