After days of reports and updates it’s official. John Calipari will not return to coach Kentucky next season after 15 seasons in Lexington, announced on social media.
No longer handcuffed by the legalities of contracts, Kentucky can now begin their search for the next head coach. Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart has issued a statement that both gives thanks to Calipari for the last 15 years and announces they have begun working on attracting their top candidates.
“We’re appreciative of John Calipari leading our program for the last 15 years, adding to the legacy of championship success at Kentucky. We’re grateful to John for his many contributions to the University, and our state, both on and off the court.
We are working diligently to hire a proven, highly dedicated coach who embraces the importance of this program to our fans and the state of Kentucky.”
The first three candidates Kentucky will reach out to are Dan Hurley, Billy Donovan, and Scott Drew. Money will be no obstacle in hiring either three, with Kentucky having the ability but they each have a personal reason why they could turn the offer down, which Alabama’s Nate Oats has already done.
That said, there is confidence around the program that the hire should not extend beyond one of those three. If it does, there is a step down in the candidates and that field is much broader. It will be an interesting couple of weeks.
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