Arkansas Razorbacks expected to hire one of NCAA's most respected basketball coaches

Credit: Denny Simmons / USA TODAY NETWORK

John Calipari has been the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats’ men’s basketball team since 2009, but not anymore.

According to Wess Moore of FOX16, the Arkansas Razorbacks are expected to hire John Calipari to take over head coaching duties of their men’s basketball team in 2024. As long as there are no last-second snags, Calipari is in line to take over at Arkansas.

John Calipari and Arkansas have entered into serious talks about its head coaching position, sources told CBS Sports, and Kentucky has been notified on the talks. Calipari’s contract terms mandate he must inform Kentucky if he engages with another school about a job interview.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) April 8, 2024

Sources: John Calipari is finalizing a five-year deal to become the next coach at Arkansas. The deal is expected to be completed in the next 24 hours.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) April 8, 2024

It’s a stunning development for Calipari and a massive hire for an Arkansas program that has one NCAA championship to its name and is currently in a 30-year drought since its last title in 1994.

Arkansas was in need of a new head coach after Eric Musselman took the job with the USC Trojans on April 4. Musselman led the Razorbacks to a 16-17 record, missing out on a chance to compete in the NCAA Tournament.

Meanwhile, Coach Calipari led the Wildcats to their third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and a 23-10 season that concluded with a first-round exit. Calipari finishes with a .769 win rate across 533 games at Kentucky, spanning 15 seasons. Calipari has one NCAA Championship to his name, coming in 2012 with a roster led by now-Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis.

If Calipari can help the Razorbacks become a college basketball powerhouse just as he did at Kentucky, then he will be well worth the price, no matter what it costs Arkansas.