According to a report filed by Memphis TV station WREG, long-time sports columnist George Lapides asked University of Memphis Athletics Director R.C. Johnson earlier today if Tigers’ basketball coach John Calipari would be Memphis’ coach at the end of day.
Johnson said “no, I don’t think so” in reference to Calipari’s involvement with the University of Kentucky’s coaching vacancy.
UK Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart received permission from Johnson to discuss the Wildcats job with Calipari.
Calipari met with his team earlier today to apprise them of the situation, but no decision had been made to leave Memphis. However, according to an anonymous Tigers’ player, Calipari sounded like he was going to take the Wildcats job.
“Yes, we met with him, he was talking like he was going to leave,” was the quote from the player who attended this morning’s meeting.
According to sources affiliated with the Kentucky program, Barnhart has offered a deal in the neighborhood of $32 million for eight years.
That amount would be $650,000 more annually than his current deal at Memphis.
Calipari could reach a decision today. Stay tuned for more…
I still am on the fence with him leaving for Kentucky. It will be interesting to how this transpires.