John Calipari bid farewell to Kentucky in a video posted to social media on Tuesday.
Saying he was “indebted forever” to the players he’s coached at Kentucky since 2009, Calipari declared it was time for the program to hear a new voice.
Reports emerged Sunday night that Calipari was finalizing an agreement to become head coach at Arkansas, an SEC rival. The move was not yet officially announced as of Tuesday with Arkansas set to approve a contract.
Calipari did not refer to Arkansas in his video on X, formerly Twitter, other than to say there were “opportunities that have been presented to us” he is discussing with his family. The 65-year-old coach said he had been reflecting with his wife Ellen about their 15 years in Kentucky.
“It’s been a beautiful time for us,” Calipari said. “This is a dream job. It was my dream job. Anybody in our profession looks at the University of Kentucky and basketball and says, ‘That is the bluest of blue.’
“The last few weeks, we’ve come to realize that this program probably needs to hear another voice, that the university as a whole has to have another voice giving guidance about this program that they hear. And the fans need to hear another voice. We’ve loved it here, but we think it’s time for us to step away, and to step away completely, from the program.”
Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart acknowledged Calipari’s departure early Tuesday afternoon.
“We’re appreciative of John Calipari leading our…
