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On Tuesday afternoon, John Calipari officially said farewell to Kentucky. He’s going to be the next head coach of the Arkansas men’s basketball team.
“This is a dream job. It was my dream job,” Calipari said of Kentucky. “The last few weeks, we’ve come to realize that this program probably needs to hear another voice.”
Moments ago, Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart released a statement regarding Calipari’s departure.
Barnhart thanked Calipari for all the success he had in Lexington over the past 15 years.
“We’re appreciative of John Calipari leading our program for the last 15 years, adding to the legacy of championship success at Kentucky,” Barnhart said. “We’re grateful to John for his many contributions to the University, and our state, both on and off the court.
As for Calipari’s replacement, Barnhart said, “We are working diligently to hire a proven, highly dedicated coach who embraces the importance of this program to our fans and the state of Kentucky.”
According to a report, Calipari reached out to Kentucky about matching Arkansas’ offer to him. The school, however, is ready to enter a new era.
While the Calipari era may have ended on a sour note, there’s no question he was an elite recruiter for Kentucky. Replacing him might be easier said than done.
Countless coaches have been linked to Kentucky over the past 24 hours, including Scott Drew, Billy Donovan, Nate Oats and Jay Wright.