John Calipari Will Return as Kentucky HC Despite March Madness Upset Loss to Oakland
March 26, 2024
Kentucky men's basketball head coach John Calipari will return to the team despite the Wildcats' loss to No. 14 seed Oakland in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
This news comes after Calipari met with athletic director Mitch Barnhart on Tuesday.
Kentucky Sports Radio's Matt Jones first reported that Calipari would return.
In 2009, the Wildcats hired Calipari, who had just coached Memphis for eight seasons. Prior to that stint, Calipari led UMass for nine seasons before a three-year tenure as the New Jersey Nets' head coach.
Over a decade-plus at Kentucky, Calipari routinely added 5-star prospects (and future NBA icons) to his team, usually for one year at a time.
Although UK had plenty of turnover in this one-and-done environment, Calipari's teams largely enjoyed great success over his first decade, making Final Fours 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015, earning national championship berths in 2012 and 2014 and winning it all in 2014.
Stars during the first half of his UK tenure included John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis, Karl-Anthony Towns, Julius Randle, Devin Booker and Jamal Murray.
Calipari signed a 10-year deal worth $86 million in 2019 after leading UK to the Elite Eight. His buyout is worth $34,968,749.
The Wildcats haven't made the Final Four since 2015. They also have won just one NCAA tournament game over the past five seasons.
UK went 9-16 overall in 2020-21 and missed all postseason tournaments entirely.
The next season was far better for UK, with the team earning a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament. However, the Wildcats fell in the first round to No. 15 seed Saint Peter's, which rolled off a run to the Elite Eight.
The 2022-23 team had its fair share of troubles and lost 11 games before the tournament but still earned a No. 6 seed. UK didn't make it out of the first weekend, though, losing to No. 3 seed Kansas State.
The 2023-24 squad featured two potential top-three draft picks in Rob Dillingham and Reed Sheppard, and they eventually earned a No. 3 seed in March Madness. But once again, UK faltered early, falling to Oakland in the first round.
The 65-year-old Calipari enjoyed a largely successful and star-studded tenure at Kentucky, although he's clearly hit a rough patch this decade.
However, the Wildcats are bringing Calipari back in hopes that he can recapture his past magic.