John Calipari further elaborates on his move to Arkansas, stating, “This wasn’t something I had planned.”
During an interview on the Dan Patrick show, Razorbacks head coach John Calipari provided additional insights into his move to Arkansas and discussed various other topics…
It has been more than two months since Arkansas made headlines by hiring John Calipari away from Kentucky, where he had spent 15 years. The Hall of Fame coach has been open about discussing the circumstances surrounding his departure, and this was no different during his appearance on the Dan Patrick Show on Wednesday morning.
During the interview, Patrick asked Calipari if it felt strange to now be introduced as the head coach of Arkansas. Calipari acknowledged the adjustment but expressed that he has grown accustomed to the change. He went on to provide an explanation for why he made the move.
“After 15 years at Kentucky,” Calipari stated, “I loved it and had a fantastic tenure. We made a positive impact on many families, achieved numerous wins, league championships, Final Fours, Elite Eights, and national titles, as well as Sweet Sixteens. However, they needed to hear a different voice.”
“I hadn’t initially anticipated this opportunity, but when it presented itself, I knew I had to seize it. Upon reviewing it, Arkansas is part of the SEC as well. They boast excellent facilities, a strong fanbase, a 20,000-seat arena, a formidable home court advantage, and solid support. Lastly, a significant factor was the chance to hire my son.”
Brad Calipari officially joined his father’s Arkansas coaching staff on May 23, taking on the role of assistant coach and Director of On-Court Player Development after two years at Vanderbilt.
While acknowledging Arkansas as a strong program and the opportunity to work alongside his father, Calipari emphasized that his decision to move on was driven by a sense of timing rather than feeling forced out of Kentucky.
“I don’t believe that was the case,” Calipari stated. “Let’s view it positively for both programs. I had 15 fantastic years there. Let Mark Pope enjoy his own 15 great years. Let me pursue my goals and build another program. Let’s aim for another national championship. Let’s impact another 25 families. This is what I want to do.”
Patrick and Calipari revisited the sequence of events leading up to Calipari’s decision to join Arkansas, recounting their discussions with Arkansas athletics director Hunter Yurachek. Calipari recalled his pivotal conversation with Houston coach Kelvin Sampson during the Final Four weekend in early April, where Sampson’s insights about player mobility resonated deeply.
“I was struggling because I didn’t want to leave my players, and Kelvin gave me a wake-up call,” Calipari recounted. “He said, ‘If you leave, they can leave. They can follow you, they can turn pro. And if you stay, they can still go elsewhere.'”
“That conversation changed my perspective. Within 36 hours, I decided I wanted this new challenge. I wanted to make a positive impact on families and elevate both the state and the program to new heights. Let’s do this,” Calipari affirmed.
Since Calipari’s appointment as head coach two months ago, he has assembled an impressive inaugural roster for the Razorbacks. The 2024 Arkansas recruiting class, currently ranked third overall, boasts the top transfer portal acquisition in the nation according to 247Sports.
Looking ahead, the coaching staff is fully engaged in finalizing next season’s schedule and actively recruiting for the 2025 and 2026 classes. They have an official visit scheduled for Meleek Thomas, a highly rated 2025 5-star guard, next Tuesday. Thomas will be the second prospect from the 2025 class to officially visit Arkansas, with more visits anticipated in the months ahead.
