In a stunning move on the eve of the NCAA championship game, Kentucky coach John Calipari is leaving for SEC rival Arkansas on a five-year deal, according to ESPN.
Calipari’s salary will be “slightly less than the $8.5 million” he makes at Kentucky but will be “incentive-laden with the ability to pass that number,” ESPN reported.
Calipari, 65 will replace Eric Musselman, who left Arkansas to take the USC job.
Calipari has been at Kentucky since 2009 and athletic director Mitch Barnhart recently said he would return for a 16th season. He was under contract through the 2028-29 season but will not owe the program a buyout for leaving early. He would have been owed $33 million if he was fired by the university.
Among the betting favorites to replace Calipari are Baylor’s Scott Drew, Alabama’s Nate Oats, Billy Donovan of the Chicago Bulls and BYU’s Mark Pope.
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