Done Deal: Calipari to become head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks

Former Kentucky Men’s Basketball head coach John Calipari is on the move and will stay in the SEC.

On Wednesday, Calipari and the University of Arkansas agreed to a five-year contract that will bring the Hall of Famer to Fayetteville.

An official release from the university lays out details of the contract.

Calipari has signed a five-year contract to lead the Razorbacks with a salary beginning at $7 million per season. The contract runs through April 30, 2029 with a maximum of two automatic rollover years for NCAA Tournament appearances that would extend the contract to 2031. The deal includes a $1 million signing bonus and features retention bonuses of $500,000 each year of the contract along with one-time bonuses for making the NCAA Tournament, reaching the second round, Sweet 16, Final Four and winning a national championship.

Calipari announced on Tuesday that he’d be stepping away from the Kentucky Men’s Basketball program, following reports that his deal with Arkansas was imminent.

Calipari led Kentucky to a national championship in 2012.

Kentucky exited the 2024 NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament in the first round, losing to Oakland University 80-76.