John Calipari Takes Significant Pay Cut At Arkansas

PublishedApril 10, 2024 11:48 AM EDT|UpdatedApril 10, 2024 11:48 AM EDT

John Calipari's eagerness to ditch Kentucky is on display with his Arkansas contract.

The former Wildcats coach shocked the college basketball world by leaving Lexington for Fayetteville after another disappointing NCAA Tournament exit.

While Calipari was definitely keeping his job, it was clear all sides were growing frustrated and Calipari got himself a lifeboat while he could still control his own fate.

Generally speaking, coaches get raises when leaving for another P5 job. That's not the case with Coach Cal.

John Calipari left Kentucky for Arkansas. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

John Calipari takes pay cut at Arkansas.

Calipari's deal with the Razorbacks is for five years and starts with a $7 million salary. He'll also receive a $1 million signing bonus. Putting aside the bonus, he's taking a kick in the shorts on salary.

Specifically, he's taking a nearly 17.65% pay cut from the $8.5 million salary he was due to earn next season. While he's certainly still making an incredible amount of money, taking a pay cut that's nearly 18% isn't anything to sneeze at.

That's giving up a lot of money. Just stop and think about what it would mean for yourself if you changed jobs and lost 17.65% of your money.

More than anything, the fact Calipari was willing to go to a school that wasn't even matching his salary should tell you everything you need to know.

Matt Norlander reported Calipari had been considering getting a new job since February. That feeling was almost certainly escalated in a huge way after losing to Oakland in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

He has just one tournament win in the past five years, and fans desperately wanted a change. Clearly, the feeling was mutual, and so much so that Calipari left a ton of money on the table to go to a traditionally inferior program.

Fortunately for Calipari, he shouldn't be missing any meals after taking a 17.65% pay cut. He's still very rich. Let me know your feelings on the situation at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.