John Calipari has spent the last nine years helping Memphis elbow its away into college basketball’s elite, turning away other opportunities to build the Tigers into a national power.
This time, Kentucky hopes the temptation proves to be too much.
The Wildcats received permission to talk to the highly successful Memphis coach on Monday, though the school Calipari has made a fixture in March vowed to do everything it could to keep him.
Kentucky has made Calipari the focus of their search to replace Billy Gillispie, who was dismissed last week after two years on the job.
Athletic director Mitch Barnhart, hoping to hit a home run after Gillispie’s turbulent tenure, said it was important to find someone who could embrace all the things that come with coaching college basketball’s winningest program.
Calipari has never been one to shy away from the spotlight, though he kept a decidedly low profile late Monday after reports surfaced that Kentucky had made its pitch.
The Tigers were expected to make a counteroffer, but one booster expects Calipari to head to the Bluegrass. The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing negotiations, acknowledged the coach was torn between the two great opportunities.
The Wildcats had a short meeting at their practice gym Monday afternoon. Asked afterward if they had a new coach, senior Jared Carter said, “I think so.” Asked if it was Calipari, Carter shrugged his shoulders and said, “I don’t know.”
Several other Kentucky players, including stars Jodie Meeks and Patrick Patterson, were escorted by university staffers and did not comment after leaving the Joe Craft Center.
Calipari met with Memphis players Monday morning.
“He told us he’s going to keep us posted,” Memphis freshman forward Wesley Witherspoon told WHBQ-TV in Memphis after Calipari met with the team Monday morning.
Kentucky fired Gillispie on Friday, ready to move on after two frustrating seasons. They went right to work Monday, with two university staffers carrying large cardboard photos of Gillispie out of the practice center while media crews watched.
Kentucky spokesman DeWayne Peevy would not confirm or deny an ESPN report that Wildcats officials had already met with Calipari and were prepared to offer him the job. Citing unidentified sources, ESPN.com reported the offer was believed to be for eight years and around $35 million.
Whatever the amount, landing Calipari won’t be cheap. He has four years left on his contract paying him $2.35 million annually. He also has an annuity averaging $1 million over the deal through 2013.
Throw in whatever settlement Kentucky negotiates with Gillispie, the Wildcats could have nearly $10 million invested in the head coach of its basketball program next year.
