John Calipari welcomed as Arkansas coach -- 'We've got work to do' - ESPN

John Calipari told a raucous crowd he's «excited» to lead Arkansas as he pumped his fists while Razorbacks fans cheered for him during his official introduction in Fayetteville on Wednesday.

Calipari, the former Kentucky head coach, said it was difficult to leave Lexington, but he believes Arkansas, which reached the Elite Eight twice and the Sweet 16 under former head coach Eric Musselman, is positioned to compete with the bluebloods.

«Kentucky is the bluest of blue,» Calipari said after he was introduced. «There's only a few schools like that, and I hate to tell you… Arkansas is one of them.»

Four years ago, Calipari was ejected in Kentucky's 73-66 win over Arkansas during the 2019-20 season. He joked about the difference in the reception he received Wednesday.

«I have never gotten that kind of greeting in this building,» he said. «As a matter of fact, you were probably in the building when they threw me out before the game ended. We did win that game, though. You guys were throwing stuff at me. I wasn't hearing any cheers.»

Arkansas football coach Sam Pittman and multiple former Razorbacks basketball players, such as Sidney Moncrief and Joe Johnson, were at Bud Walton Arena to welcome Calipari, who arrived following a whirlwind of rumors and reports about his future following a rocky final season at Kentucky.

His team's loss to Oakland in the NCAA tournament was its second first-round loss in three years, and that stretch followed a 9-16 campaign in 2020-21. After Kentucky's upset loss to the Grizzlies last month, athletic director Mitch Barnhart announced Calipari would return, despite a multitude of fans demanding a change. Calipari said then he was ready to reboot Kentucky basketball.

But weeks later, he was in