It’s official. John Calipari is the head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks at a reduced rate.
Calipari’s contract is a five-year deal at $7M per season that can max out at seven seasons plus incentives. The contract includes a $1 million signing bonus, retention bonuses ($500,000) each year, and one-time bonuses for making the NCAA Tournament, reaching the second round, Sweet 16, Final Four, and winning a national championship.
Calipari was making $8.5M a year at Kentucky.
The Arkansas job opened when Eric Musselman left for USC. In five seasons, Musselman made the NCAA tournament three times, reaching the Sweet 16 in all three appearances.
Arkansas last made a Final Four in the 1994-1995 season.
Calipari’s move is the right place at the right time.
Arkansas’s commitment to success in the fiercely competitive SEC, coupled with the availability of NIL money, makes it an ideal environment for Calipari’s coaching prowess.
Even though Calipari’s magic with five-star recruits has dimmed a bit, NIL plus Calipari’s success putting players in the NBA will allow Arkansas to get high-level recruits who project to stay for at least two seasons.
Using NIL to convince players to stay for more than a season is the key to success in the NIL Era.
High-level prospects will stay longer as most NBA draftees start their careers in the NBA G League. That includes players who are lottery picks.
The changing landscape of the NBA and NIL are ushering in a new era in the prospect world. One-and-done talent will find more money staying in school. The timing couldn’t be better for college basketball. With Covid Exemptions running out, the average age will dip, but the age of five-star prospects will hold firm or rise.
The environment lines up perfectly for Calipari and Arkansas.
With everything in place, Calipari can get Arkansas back to where Nolan Richardson had placed them, the season’s final weekend.
