John Calipari wants Kentucky departure, time at Arkansas to benefit both programs

John Calipari is settling into his new home as the head coach at Arkansas. After a long run at Kentucky, Calipari made the jump to the Razorbacks this season, presumably as pressure was building surrounding his status in Lexington.

Calipari joined Dan Patrick recently to discuss a variety of topics, including the somewhat surprising choice to leave Kentucky for Arkansas. While the perception from outside the program viewed Calipari as potentially getting pushed out, he disputed that idea and said his decision had nothing to do with Wildcat fans or BBN.

“I don’t think that was the case,” said Calipari about getting pushed out to something new. “But again, it had nothing to do with fans… Kentucky fans are engaged, they’re exactly what you want in a fan until you lose a game you’re not supposed to lose. Then they’re still engaged, so it had nothing to do with that.”

Calipari went on to describe a scenario where he was simply ready for a new challenge of rebuilding a program into a national title-winning powerhouse. It’s a situation where Calipari expressed a desire to see it work out mutually beneficial for the 2 programs and new UK head coach mark Pope. He also admitted it was time for a new voice in Lexington.

“Let it be good for both. I had 15 great years there. Let Mark Pope have 15 great years. Let me finish how I want to finish,” Calipari said. “Let me build another program, let’s win another national championship, let’s help another 25 families. Let me do this.”

As for reaching the decision to leave for Arkansas, Calipari pointed toward a conversation with Kelvin Sampson as instrumental in making the final call. Calipari was worried about leaving his players behind, but Sampson reminded him that this is a new era for college sports.

“I’m having a hard time because I’m going to end up leaving players,” Calipari said about the decision. “And Kelvin went crazy. ‘What? If you leave they can leave, they can go where they want. They can go with you, they can go pro. What are you talking about? This isn’t 10 years ago.'”

.@CoachCalArk discusses the process of leaving #Kentucky for @RazorbackMBB.

“Let it be good for both. I had 15 great years there. Let Mark Pope have 15 great years. Let me finish how I want to finish.” pic.twitter.com/yxl4Q7Gozo

— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) June 19, 2024

It sounds noble to hear Calipari hope things work out mutually beneficial in the split. But anyone planted in reality knows that is a virtual impossibility in college athletics.

If Calipari returns Arkansas to a position of prominence with a national title, UK fans will be left to wonder why he was incapable of delivering another championship with the Wildcats. And if he fails to deliver a title, Kentucky will hold it over his head as evidence that he was indeed past his prime abilities as a coach.

Then, there’s the Mark Pope equation. If he can lead the Wildcats to the promised land, that will present another set of issues for Calipari’s desire for things to work out for both teams. Kentucky winning a title, all while Arkansas does not, is not exactly a sign things are working out for Calipari’s Razorbacks.

During the 2024-25 season, the SEC made the dubious decision for Kentucky and Arkansas to play just 1 game. That matchup will be must-see TV inside Rupp Arena, and fans can track the odds for that showdown and the SEC season with SDS’s KY betting apps.

Paul Harvey

Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.