Arkansas hires John Calipari as next men's basketball coach on 5-year deal

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The University of Arkansas announced Wednesday that Hall of Fame coach John Calipari will serve as the next head coach of the men’s basketball team, a move that comes just one day after Calipari announced he was departing from Kentucky following a 15-year career with the Wildcats. 

Calipari, 65, signed a five-year deal that will see the veteran coach earn $7 million per season, the university said in a press release. The deal includes a $1 million signing bonus, $500,000 retention bonuses each year, and one-time bonuses based on how far the Razorbacks advance in the NCAA tournament. 

The Razorback mascot waves the team flag before the Vanderbilt Commodores game at Bud Walton Arena on Feb. 27, 2024, in Fayetteville, Arkansas. (Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

"By all accounts, John Calipari is one of the premier coaches in college basketball," Hunter Yurachek, Arkansas vice chancellor and director of athletics, said in a statement provided by the school. 

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"A national championship coach, a four-time national coach of the year and one of the nation’s top recruiters, Coach Cal has consistently demonstrated his ability to attract outstanding talent and build championship teams within the Southeastern Conference and position his programs among the best in the nation."

"As I visited with Coach Calipari during this process, he acknowledged the tremendous opportunity we have at the University of Arkansas to attract and retain top players and compete for championships," Yurachek continued. "He understands the deep passion of the Razorback Nation and has experienced the tremendous home court