Will Kentucky fire John Calipari? Why Big blues coach could be on hot seat after March Madness loss to…

I’m having the blues.

On Thursday, Kentucky’s inconsistent season came to an abrupt end as they lost to No. 14 Oakland. For the Wildcats, who flew too close to the sun and spent most of the year hovering between bubble seed and contender, it was the abrupt conclusion of an unimpressive campaign.

Since 2019, Kentucky has failed to get past the first round of the NCAA tournament. That’s a millennia for a blue-blood program like the Wildcats. Many supporters are questioning if this is really the end for longtime coach John Calipari given the program’s lack of demonstrable success over the years.

Cal has spent fifteen seasons on the show. He has solidified his place among

During his time in the Bluegrass State, he became one of the greatest minds in the game and even won a national title. But time waits for no one, and certainly not for a 64-year-old who appears to be becoming less relevant in a basketball world that is always evolving.

Here’s what you should know as the ‘Cats get ready for another unpredictable offseason.

Will Kentucky fire John Calipari?
Coach Cal is undoubtedly one of the greatest coaches to ever grace the college game, and while he’s produced a steady stream of NBA-caliber guards in recent seasons (Devin Booker, Jamal Murray, Tyrese Maxey, and, soon, Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham), the Wildcats have faltered time and time again when the lights are at their brightest.

Kentucky has two postseason wins — one in March Madness, one in the SEC tournament — since its run to the Elite Eight in 2019. For a program of UK’s prominence, that’s simply untenable. Or is it?

Calipari has struggled mightily in recent years, but he and the program are still tethered to one another by way of a mammoth contract. Check it out:

John Calipari contract buyout
Calipari inked a so-called “lifetime” contract in 2019, agreeing to a 10-year, $86 million deal. His contract features an eye-popping buyout clause, too. He’s due to receive 75 percent of the value remaining on his deal if he were to be sacked. That comes out to $33.375 million in money Kentucky would have to shell out if it wanted to part ways with its legendary coach.

John Calipari ‘lifetime’ contract
Given his age in 2019 at the time of his 10-year, $86 million deal — Cal was 59 at the time — it will likely be Calipari’s last before riding out into the sunset with retirement. As such, it’s widely considered to be a ‘lifetime’ contract

Calipari is the second-highest-paid coach in college basketball, trailing only Kansas’ Bill Self. If Kentucky was to hand Cal the pink slip, it would be tantamount to forking over $6.675 million per season to get rid of him. By comparison, the third-highest-paid coach in college ball is Michigan State’s Tom Izzo. His salary? $6.2 million.

The Wildcats could let Calipari go, but given his price tag, it seems unlikely at present. That’s not even considering the fact that Big Blue would have to seek out the services of another ostensibly expensive/big-name man to stalk its sidelines.

How much does John Calipari make a year?
Calipari’s currently on a 10-year, $86 million contract. As such, he makes $8.6 million a year, the second-highest total in college basketball (behind only Self’s $13 million a season).

How old is John Calipari?
Calipari is 65 years old, turning that age on Feb. 10. He’s still some ways away from the true elder statesmen of the college game, as six coaches are on the other side of 70, including Miami’s Jim Larranaga and St. John’s Rick Pitino.

Still, he’s no spring chicken, to say the least.