LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Memphis has given Kentucky permission to speak to coach John Calipari about the Wildcats’ head coaching position.
Athletic director R.C. Johnson said in a statement Monday that Calipari could meet with Kentucky representatives, but stressed Memphis will do whatever it can to retain the coach.
Calipari did not immediately return a text message from The Associated Press. Several Memphis players did not respond to e-mail messages left by the AP.
Kentucky spokesman DeWayne Peevy would not confirm or deny an ESPN report that Wildcats officials had already met with Calipari and were prepared to offer him the job. Athletic director Mitch Barnhart did not respond to AP requests for comment.
The school fired Billy Gillispie on Friday after two seasons.
The Commercial Appeal newspaper reported on its Web site that Calipari met with his players Monday morning.
Calipari just concluded his ninth season at Memphis and has a 137-14 record over the past four seasons in which the Tigers were the only team to earn either a No. 1 or 2 seed in the NCAA tournament. He guided Memphis to a national runner-up finish last season, and the Tigers (33-4) were ousted in the West Regional semifinal on Thursday night.
He has the top-rated recruiting class in the country headed to Memphis, but his latest recruit 6-foot-10 DeMarcus Cousins committed verbally within the past month and could follow Calipari to Kentucky if the coach leaves.
Landing Calipari won’t be cheap. He has four years left on his contract paying him $2.35 million annually. He also has an annuity averaging $1 million over the deal through 2013.
Throw in whatever settlement Kentucky negotiates with Gillispie, the Wildcats could have near $10 million invested in the head coach of its basketball program next year.
That doesn’t matter to one of college basketball’s most ardent fan bases, which seemed to electrified by the possibility of getting Calipari. A Facebook group called “Bring John Calipari to UK” had swelled to more than 9,000 members as of Monday afternoon while a popular Kentucky message board had over 15,000 people on it during the lunch hour.
Barnhart stressed the need for finding a coach who can embrace all the things that come with leading college basketball’s winningest program. Gillispie went just 40-27 in two seasons and seemed uncomfortable with the celebrity that came with the job.
Calipari, never one to shy away from a camera, would seem to have the charisma to match Louisville coach Rick Pitino. Pitino was named the Wildcats coach 20 years ago, winning a national championship in eight seasons at Kentucky.
Pitino and Calipari used to spar when the Cardinals battled the Tigers in Conference USA. Having two of the nation’s most high-profile coaches 70 miles apart could add another layer to one of the country’s most bitter rivalries.
The two met in the 1996 Final Four when Pitino was at Kentucky and Calipari was at Massachusetts. The Wildcats won 81-74 on their way to a sixth national championship.
Pitino left for the NBA a year later, and Kentucky has been in steady — if small — decline ever since.
Gillispie was hired to bring some of the swagger back and instead the Wildcats failed to make the NCAA tournament this year for the first time since 1991. He was let go last week after Barnhart said the match of coach and program wasn’t a “good fit.”
Barnhart stressed the need to find a leader who can thrive under the unique spotlight coaching the Wildcats provides. Calipari doesn’t lack for charm, though his past NCAA transgressions could be problematic for a program still sensitive of its image following the recruiting scandal left behind by Eddie Sutton in the late-1980s.
Massachusetts had to vacate its ’96 Final Four appearance after star Marcus Camby admitted to accepting gifts from a sports agent.
Calipari moved on to the NBA before landing at Memphis in 2000. The Tigers have not had any troubles during his tenure while developing into a national powerhouse.
Kentucky, however, is hardly the first program to flirt with Calipari, who often has received a bigger paycheck from Memphis as a result of the interest.
He signed a contract extension in April 2008 that pushed his deal through the 2012-13 season giving him a $500,000 a year raise with a $5 million bonus if he finishes the contract. That pushed his annual salary to $2.35 million.
He got that deal after taking Memphis to an NCAA Division I record 38 wins and the national championship game — the program’s first Final Four since 1985 and first NCAA final since 1973. The Tigers lost 75-68 in overtime to Kansas.
“What this contract has done is wiped out 99 percent of that stuff, and I told them that I appreciate that. It’s not only the base salary, but it’s also the longevity bonus which wipes out the others. There are no other places. This is the place,” Calipari said at a news conference when the contract was signed.
© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 196
volnbig11land writes:
bye!
are you really going to leave that cushy conference schedule to come to the SEC?
mattucket#231689 writes:
I thought Kentucky was looking at someone with a bunch of National/World Titles to meet the unrealistic expectations at UK..... I heard the short list was: Pat Summit, John Wooden, and Pat Riley.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Maybe Calapari is using UK to milk more money out of UM. As I said on another thread, I can't think of ANY reason why he would actually PREFER what he will be facing at UK--thin roster, insanely demanding fan/donor base, tougher conference competition--compared to what he has right now at UM. Maybe the NCAA cops are on his trail at UM; not like that would be the first time that has happened, for either UM or for Calapari. Otherwise, it makes little sense to me.
vietnameravet writes:
He's gone and I dont's care... GO VOLS
vietnameravet writes:
He's as good as gone mark it down...
PowerTandDD writes:
Buh Bye, Memphis High. Hello, High Expectations U!
Looks like the SEC is going to grind on another whiner's nerves soon. He and Urban Crier can start their own pity party.
spvol writes:
Welcome to a real conference, Calimari.
calvolfromkingsport writes:
Never liked that carpetbagger, never will. The cats pulled the trigger way too quick. Heck, Gillispie was 3-1 over the Vols. Shame he couldn't beat VMI.
KCHS63 writes:
Guess he'll try to re-schedule Tennessee-Kentucky for Middlesboro? The Gap Classic?
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
LMAO at tiger high fans!!!!!!!!
Blizake writes:
I would stay in C-usa...he will have the most wins as a coach if he stays there and about the conference... I dont care what conference you are in if you go 3 years without losing thats impressive..its like when UNC loses to like Northern texas or somethin there are way better teams in C-usa than Northern texas! But who cares I'm just sayin!!
GahLee writes:
Why would he take the Kentucky job? He has it made at Memphis, he can rack up 30 wins with relative ease, get great seeding. He gets paid top dollar and has another stellar recruiting class coming in, really makes no sense, by the way Kentucky is not the Notre Dame of basketball, they have taken a major step back in relevance. I would say that Meeks and Patterson are gone, even if Cal jumps ship, that leaves them with nothing. It would be nice to see him getting pounded by SEC teams though.
doverton#635371 (Inactive) writes:
IMO he is a great recruiter, but not very good with x's and o's. Instead of coaching, spends too much time crying to the officials.Would love to see how he would do against the SEC,which is much stronger than conference USA
Huttdawg100 writes:
As a graduate of the University of Tennessee, I'd much rather see Cal once a year with Memphis, than two or three times a year with Kentucky... We do not want Cal to revive that Kentucky program and make it hard on us... Believe me, the SEC is so much better for Tennessee without Cal. I've witnessed the guy lead a dead Memphis program to the National Championship game, and become the heart and identity of a city that doesn't have much going. Cal, please stay put.
drone#208075 writes:
A life time supply of Corky's ought to keep him in Mempho.
StroVol writes:
Who was that "cat" that came on here spouted MEMPHIS horse....!
memphis_vol_fan writes:
Well said. On the flip side, UK makes or breaks the SEC. The conference will not be good if UK stays in their current state.
MrBamSeydu writes:
I hate Memphis and Kentucky equally, so either way it doesn't matter to me.
tennezz writes:
He`s crazy if he goes to the "pressure cooker" at kentucky, He has it made at memphis!
golfballs03 writes:
Damn, now we have to worry about him twice a year. I bet he takes the job just to be a bigger thorn in Bruce's side.
checkerboards writes:
Kentucky is just like Notre Dame football. They will never be satisfied with any coach unless they raise Rupp from the dead to coach again. Coach Cal has a great set up where he is - play a weak conference schedule and then set up 4-5 meaningful non-conference games a year and a guanrteed 1 or 2 seed. IMO I think it has become to easy during the season and he is bored. He wants a challenge and he will sure get it in Lexington. I think it would be great to see Pearl and Cal go at it twice a year.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Has been enjoyable with the sound of silence from the Bluff city lopers.
Azz kickings have a way of doing that.
VOLstuckINky writes:
UK fans think Calimari is a savorior .... I think he will be another bust in a real conference.
SomeGuy writes:
Why would he take the UK job? Maybe because he would no longer have to live in Memphis?
golfballs03 writes:
If you consider the life of the programs, Kentucky is close to being the Notre Dame of basketball (I don't think a comparable program exists in College Hoops). Two elite programs that have been derailed.
I think this would be a fantastic hire for Kentucky. I just hope that Calipari keeps the program clean and won't tarnish it with the thugs that he brings to Memphis. Although, nobody really seems to care that Tyreke Evans was an accomplice in a drive-by shooting.
utchris writes:
Rumor around Memphis is that Kentucky is coming with 4.5 mil a year plus a 2 mil signing bonus
bluetiger writes:
If he goes to Kentucky, a lot of us Memphis fans will be rooting for Tennessee every time you play them.
golfballs03 writes:
Lou Holtz is there for the taking. What's stopping them?
Digger writes:
Does that mean Memphis' monster recruits for next year will start searching for other schools? I hope so!!!
TDTN writes:
While he just might revive a dull Ky program, sooner or later someone is going to so the Vols better suck it up and learn to compete with them. The upside is this should really help Pearl recruit the Memphis area with Cal out of there.
UKblue02 writes:
For those BB fans who are interested, latest rumor/word is Cali will be coach, Meeks and Patterson are supposed to stay, Daniel Orton a 6'10 center is still going to come to UK now, Patterson will move to power forward, Orton in the middle and also rumors say Demarcus Cousins come with Cali so maybe there is the other forward, also John Wall is rumored to be looking at UK now since Orton and Cali are coming and we for sure need a point guard. Like i said Word on the street, may all be true may all be a hoax, but it's good fodder to keep the talk going i guess.
mike#208050 writes:
Here is the deal. In the next few hours Cal will decide. If he takes the job, and all indications are he will, he will also take Cousins and John Wall with him. (that is two of the top 3 players in the recruiting class this year) Add those two with Patterson and Meeks and Kentucky is in the Final Four. Calipari is the real deal and he will walk over the SEC just like he did Conf-USA. Don't say a word, you will be eating them soon enough. Bruce Pearl will be a memory and you can turn all your hate towards Kentucky.
Memphis has a lot of great athletes coming back and several already signed. They will hire another coach who is a winner. We were paying Cal $2.3 mil, so there is plenty to choose from. It won't take long to get back on top.
TIGRFAN in knoxville
golfballs03 writes:
That's what I thought, but Cal was recruiting nationally for his big-time players, but it would be good if we can lock down Memphis anyway. Maybe we can find a point guard there.
But bringing Cal it KY isn't so bad because Pearl is familiar with his game and knows how to beat him.
volroadwarrior writes:
Yea baby.
Volunatic writes:
But I thought memphis was THE elite program of the new millennium!
cantspelloverratedcorrectly said so, and I think tigerjoker backed him up on that!
memphis_vol_fan writes:
LOL!! I don't blame you. But hey, the man has taken y'all on a great ride the past couple of years.
Volunatic writes:
So is the East Memphis Doubletree going to change the name of their steakhouse? "Cal's" was so quaint.
Volunatic writes:
Maybe that's why he said Kentucky is the Notre Dame of basketball-- KY BB and ND FB have BOTH taken major steps back in relevance.
Volunatic writes:
Don't worry-- most of us never stopped hating Kentucky.
bookman58 writes:
I am a Memphis fan who always tries to be respectful when visiting this board. I live in the Memphis area and I assure you Tiger basketball is all we have. If Coach Cal leaves we are finished. We were looking at the best recruiting class ever for next year. That is gone. Our football team is a joke and everyone knows it, but basketball was the one thing that we really had to look forward to. I think being in CUSA is a real killer. I hope he stays, but it sure looks like a done deal. Take care my Vol friends.
MaxPower writes:
1) Calipari is just the type coach Kentucky wants: Recruits big names, plays exciting basketball and uses lots of hair products. They will love him.
2)He'll do great right away because of the recruits that will follow from Memphis. Demarcus Cousins definitely and maybe John Wall. Maybe Xavier Henry if he gets out of LOI with Tiger High.
3)Kentucky is much like Notre Dame because they currently not a player for the National Title. They live on past glory. But methinks they'll do much better with Calipari than ND is doing with Weis.
Calipari has won at UMass and Memphis, now he gets to prove it in the big time. He won't be able to turn down the chance.
golfballs03 writes:
He takes Cousins and Xavier Henry with him. John Wall isn't committed there. The same Memphis fans who say he is are also the ones who thought Devin Ebanks was going to Memphis. Crazy. Just like thinking that Cal is going to walk over the SEC. Cal is only 1-2 against Bruce Pearl! Billy Donovan is 10 times the coach that Calipari is. But you dont know anything about basketball. Memphis will be lucky to get some up and coming coach from a mid-major. Good luck chumps.
golfballs03 writes:
Urban Meyer turned down Notre Dame. I doubt he was the only one.
ZALWEED writes:
Maybe...but if Meeks and Patterson return and a few of those top recruits follow him here, it won't be that thin of a roster!
Agee_Vols_82 writes:
Nah, he'll replace it with Forge Ridge or Gateway
ZALWEED writes:
We were satisfied with Pitino.
GreerVol22 writes:
the real question is, would Bruce leave for Memphis???
BuckheadVol1 writes:
I am sure they would be open to other schools but the word is that the recruits will go with him to UK.
Golfer77 writes:
" thought Kentucky was looking at someone with a bunch of National/World Titles to meet the unrealistic expectations at UK..... I heard the short list was: Pat Summit, John Wooden, and Pat Riley."
"Buh Bye, Memphis High. Hello, High Expectations U!
Looks like the SEC is going to grind on another whiner's nerves soon. He and Urban Crier can start their own pity party."
Are you talking Kentucky BB or UT Football? IMHO you guys are a pot calling the kettle black......
BuckheadVol1 writes:
Just got a text from Memphis, he is gone to UK! Now we can love to hate him at UK! Memphis will be in the toilet after this!
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