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John Calipari is gearing up for Year 1 in Fayetteville after accepting the Arkansas head coaching gig this offseason. Ending a 15-year tenure with SEC rival Kentucky, Coach Cal is looking for a fresh start.
A relationship with the Wildcats bittered near the end of that stint as Calipari’s team saw a string of swift NCAA Tournament exits. After being upset in the first round of his most recent Big Dance by Oakland, many called for his job.
Thanks to a massive buyout, the university ultimately opted to keep him on for another season more. Things changed when the Arkansas gig opened up.
A result of a domino effect put into place by SMU’s firing of Rob Lanier, Calipari jumped at the opportunity given the souring standing with his fanbase and employer.
Now that he’s gotten settled in Fayetteville, we’re beginning to see the first images of the head coach working with his new team.
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John Calipari was spotted challenging his squad this week as they progress through the offseason.
“We’ve got to get better defensively. We’ve got to get mentally tough. We’ve got guys that need to work on their wheels. We’ve got guys that don’t shoot it consistently enough. You’ve got to get in here and figure it out.”
John Calipari replaced his entire Arkansas roster.
The head coach inherited a bare cupboard after seeing Eric Musselman’s players bail for other opportunities. He did his best to fill slots in the transfer portal, even convincing a few of his Kentucky Wildcats to follow him to Fayetteville.
Calipari was able to do so, in part, thanks to a strong NIL backing.
His new Arkansas role came equipped with major NIL support – with Razorback donors having ties to the Dallas Cowboys, Tyson Food, and Wal-Mart.
One of those donors was at the team’s most recent practice.
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Wal-Mart’s CEO, and Arkansas grad, dropped into practice this week to give a pep talk of sorts.
“I was here for the 1994 championship… We could not be more excited that you’re here, that Coach Cal is here. I think great things are going to happen… People could not be more excited.”
Now, that influence can be both a good and bad thing for players on campus when combined with fanbase expectations.
Obviously, more NIL power can result in a larger payout for contributors. Conversely, those that struggle can now more quickly be replaced through the transfer portal.
The guest appearance was a reminder of the positive, but also the fact that it can swiftly be taken away!
Arkansas, and its donors, want to win NOW. It’s the reason for making the splash hire that was Calipari. They’ve made it known through pledges to the basketball program.
Now, it’s time for the Razorbacks to deliver.