Report: John Calipari Has Been Trying to Leave Kentucky Since February

On Sunday night, the news broke that John Calipari would be leaving Kentucky after 15 seasons to take the job at Arkansas, taking many by surprise, including those around the program. That said, it is being reported that Calipari has been looking at an exit strategy since February.

According to Matt Norlander of CBS Sports, “He (Calipari) privately expressed significant/serious interest in the Ohio State job but the timing wasn’t right, per source. Arkansas coming available was a dream shot out of Lexington.”

This comes after last season where there was real traction of Calipari leaving for Texas before the Longhorns kept on interim coach Rodney Terry.

This is interesting when you consider that just two weeks ago, John Calipari went on his end-of-season call-in show and said Kentucky is where he wanted to be. If it is true, that Calipari was in fact looking elsewhere, those words have no weight, nor do those spoken in his sit-down interview with Mitch Barnhart on LEX18.

As it stands, this seems like this could be a positive for both parties. Kentucky fans can come together and support a new coach. Calipari can leave Lexington on a less toxic note for Arkansas, who has lower expectations and pressure, to finish out his career.