For three years, John Calipari couldn’t escape the second round with Kentucky. In his first year at Arkansas, he shattered that curse—only to suffer an 85-83 Sweet 16 heartbreak as Texas Tech stormed back from 16 down. March Madness crushed his dreams and his self-esteem, but his bank account told a different story. With a $250K raise and an extra year tacked onto his contract, Calipari may have lost the game, but he won where it counts.
According to a post on X by USA Today reporter Steve Berkowitz, “Arkansas coach John Calipari’s contract includes no lump sum bonuses, but he ends season with automatic 1-yr contract extension and a $250,000 raise that takes effect July 1.”
This means that Coach Calipari is set to make $7.75M next season. His deal now runs through 2030, adding $8.7M in value, with $6.15M guaranteed. Financially, it is a win. But emotionally? That was a different story.
This means Calipari now set to make $7.75 million next season. And altogether, with his deal now set to run thru 4/30/2030, he has added just over $8.7 million to the scheduled value of his contract this season, with just over $6.15 million guaranteed. https://t.co/FRUkB7nglL
— Steve Berkowitz (@ByBerkowitz) March 28, 2025
Calipari didn’t sugarcoat his emotions. Speaking to reporters after the game, he admitted, “I feel like crap right now, but this was as rewarding of a year I’ve had in all my years.” For a coach who built his career on Final Four runs and NBA-bound talent, watching a 16-point second-half lead disappear was a bitter pill to swallow.
The loss itself was brutal. Arkansas controlled the game for 38 minutes and 53 seconds, only to watch Texas Tech storm back with a 16-3 run to force overtime. Darrion Williams’ game-tying three with 9.7 seconds left in regulation and his go-ahead layup in OT sealed the Red Raiders’ 85-83 victory. Arkansas’ defense, which had held up all night, unraveled when it mattered most. The Razorbacks allowed Texas Tech to grab 22 offensive rebounds and take 18 more shots, ultimately leading to their downfall.
More to follow….
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