View source for John Calipari

{{short description|American college basketball coach (born 1959)}}
{{redirect|Calipari|the surname, including a list of people with the name|Calipari (surname)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = John Calipari
| image = John Calipari (15536413759).jpg
| alt = 
| caption = Calipari in 2014
| current_title = [[Head coach]]
| current_team = [[Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball|Arkansas]]
| current_conference = [[Southeastern Conference|SEC]]
| current_record = {{Winning percentage|22|14|record=y}}
| contract = 
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1959|2|10}}
| birth_place = [[Moon Township, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| alma_mater = 
| player_years1 = 1978–1980
| player_team1 = [[UNC Wilmington Seahawks men's basketball|UNC Wilmington]]
| player_years2 = 1980–1982
| player_team2 = [[Clarion Golden Eagles men's basketball|Clarion]]
| player_positions = [[Point guard]]
| coach_years1 = 1982–1985
| coach_team1 = [[Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball|Kansas]] (associate assistant)
| coach_years2 = 1985–1988
| coach_team2 = [[Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball|Pittsburgh]] (assistant)
| coach_years3 = 1988–1996
| coach_team3 = [[UMass Minutemen basketball|UMass]]
| coach_years4 = 1996–1999
| coach_team4 = [[New Jersey Nets]]
| coach_years5 = 1999–2000
| coach_team5 = [[Philadelphia 76ers]] (assistant)
| coach_years6 = 2000–2009
| coach_team6 = [[Memphis Tigers men's basketball|Memphis]]
| coach_years7 = 2009–2024
| coach_team7 = [[Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball|Kentucky]]
| coach_years8 = 2024–present
| coach_team8 = [[Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball|Arkansas]]
| overall_record = {{winpct|874|276|record=y}} (college)<br>72–112 ({{Winning percentage|72|112}}) (NBA)
| tournament_record = 58–23* ([[NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I]])<br>15–6 ([[National Invitation Tournament|NIT]])
| championships = {{Plainlist|
* [[List of NCAA Division I men's basketball champions|NCAA Division I tournament]] ([[2012 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game|2012]])
* 6 [[List of NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament Final Four appearances by coach|NCAA Division I regional – Final Four]] ([[1996 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1996]]*, [[2008 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2008]]*, [[2011 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2011]], [[2012 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2012]], [[2014 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2014]], [[2015 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2015]])
* [[National Invitation Tournament|NIT]] ([[2002 National Invitation Tournament|2002]])
* 5 [[Atlantic 10 men's basketball tournament|A10 tournament]] (1992–1996)
* 5 [[Atlantic 10 Conference|A10]] regular season (1992–1996)
* 4 [[Conference USA men's basketball tournament|C-USA tournament]] (2006–2009)
* 5 [[Conference USA|C-USA]] regular season (2004, 2006–2009)
* 6 [[SEC men's basketball tournament|SEC tournament]] (2010, 2011, 2015–2018)
* 6 [[Southeastern Conference|SEC]] regular season (2010, 2012, 2015–2017, 2020)
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Vacated by the NCAA
}}
| awards = {{Plainlist|
* 3× [[Naismith College Coach of the Year]] (1996, 2008, 2015)
* [[Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year|AP College Coach of the Year]] (2015)
* 3× [[NABC Coach of the Year]] (1996, 2009, 2015)
* 2× [[Basketball Times]] Coach of the Year (1996, 2015)
* 2× [[Adolph Rupp Cup]] (2010, 2015)
* [[Jim Phelan (basketball)|Jim Phelan]] National Coach of the Year (2009)
* 3× A10 Coach of the Year (1993, 1994, 1996)
* 3× C-USA Coach of the Year (2006, 2008, 2009)
* 4× SEC Coach of the Year (2010, 2012, 2015, 2020)
}}
| coaching_records = 
| BASKHOF_year = 2015
| BASKHOF_id = john-calipari
| CBBASKHOF_year = 
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Head Coach for {{DOM}}}}
{{MedalSport|[[Dominican Republic national basketball team|Dominican Republic national team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIBA Americas Championship]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[2011 FIBA Americas Championship|2011 Mar del Plata]]|[[2011 FIBA Americas Championship|Men's basketball]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Centrobasket]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[2012 Centrobasket|2012 Puerto Rico]] | [[2012 Centrobasket|Men's basketball]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Marchand Continental Championship Cup|Marchand Cup]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[2011 Marchand Continental Championship Cup|2011 Marchand Cup]]|[[2011 Marchand Continental Championship Cup|Men's basketball]]}}
{{MedalSport|Head Coach for {{bk|USA}}}}
{{MedalSport|[[United States men's national under-19 basketball team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIBA Under-19 World Cup]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[2017 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup|2017 Egypt]]|[[United States men's national under-19 basketball team|National team]]}}
}}
'''John Vincent Calipari''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|k|æ|l|ɪ|'|p|ær|i}}; born February 10, 1959) is an American [[basketball]] coach who is the head coach at the [[Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball|University of Arkansas]]. He has been named [[Naismith College Coach of the Year]] three times (1996, 2008, and 2015), and was inducted into the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame|Basketball Hall of Fame]] in 2015.

Previously, he was the head coach at the [[UMass Minutemen basketball|University of Massachusetts]] from 1988 to 1996, the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]]'s [[New Jersey Nets]] from 1996 to 1999, the [[Memphis Tigers men's basketball|University of Memphis]] from 2000 to 2009, and the [[Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball|University of Kentucky]] from 2009 to 2024. During the 2011–2012 season, he led Kentucky to a national championship. Additionally, he was the head coach of the [[Dominican Republic national basketball team|Dominican Republic national team]] in the summers of 2011 and 2012 as well as the [[United States men's national under-19 basketball team]] in July 2017.

Calipari coached Kentucky to four [[List of NCAA Division I Men's Final Four appearances by coach|Final Fours]] in 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015. He also led UMass and Memphis to the Final Four in 1996 and 2008 respectively; those appearances were later [[Vacated victories|vacated]], though Calipari was cleared of wrongdoing in both cases.<ref name="Lexington Herald-Leader">{{cite news |url=https://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/uk-basketball-men/article44000313.html |title=April 27, 2009, Letter from NCAA to John Calipari |newspaper=[[Lexington Herald-Leader]] |access-date=May 30, 2009}}</ref> As a college coach, Calipari has twenty-nine 20-win seasons, eleven 30-win seasons, and five 35-win seasons.

As of December 2024, with 865 official wins, Calipari ranks 9th on the [[NCAA Division I]] all-time winningest coaches list.

==Playing career==
[[File:John Calipari, 1979-1980 University of North Carolina, Wilmington basketball team.png|thumb|left|upright=0.7|John Calipari, 1979–1980 UNCW basketball team]]
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:John Calipari Clarion University.jpeg|thumb|left|upright=0.7|John Calipari, 1980-82 Clarion University basketball team{{Deletable file-caption|Friday, 5 April 2024|F7}}]] -->
Calipari [[Letterman (sports)|lettered]] two years at [[UNC Wilmington Seahawks men's basketball|UNC Wilmington]] before transferring to [[Clarion University of Pennsylvania]], from which he graduated with a [[bachelor's degree]] in marketing. He played [[point guard]] at [[Clarion Golden Eagles men's basketball|Clarion]] during the 1981 and 1982 seasons, leading the team in assists and free throw percentage.

==Coaching career==
From 1982 to 1985, Calipari was an assistant at the [[Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball|University of Kansas]] under [[Ted Owens (basketball coach)|Ted Owens]] and [[Larry Brown (basketball)|Larry Brown]].<ref name="BKerkhoffKCStar01292016"/><ref name="KUSports040212">{{Cite web  | last = Tait | first = Matt | title = John Calipari talks about KU days | url = http://www2.kusports.com/news/2012/apr/02/john-calipari-talks-about-ku-days/ | date = April 2, 2012 | access-date = April 2, 2012 }}</ref> Calipari had several jobs as the lowest coach in the pecking order when Ted Owens hired him as a volunteer assistant for the Jayhawks' 1982–83 season, including serving food at the training table.<ref name="BKerkhoffKCStar01292016"/> "I was blessed to have the chance. Can you imagine being 22, 23 and your first opportunity to be around the game is at a program like Kansas?"<ref name="BKerkhoffKCStar01292016">{{cite news |last=Kerkhoff |first=Blair |date=January 29, 2016 |title=Kentucky's John Calipari returns to scene of first basketball job |url=http://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/university-of-kansas/article57302503.html#storylink=cpy |newspaper=[[Kansas City Star]] |location=[[Kansas City, Missouri]] |access-date=February 23, 2017 }}</ref>

From 1985 to 1988, he was an assistant coach at the [[Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball|University of Pittsburgh]] under [[Roy Chipman]] and [[Paul Evans (basketball coach)|Paul Evans]]. From 1988 to 1996, he was head coach at the [[UMass Minutemen men's basketball|University of Massachusetts]]. From 1996 to 1999, he was head coach and Executive VP of basketball operations for the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]]'s [[New Jersey Nets]]. During the [[1999–2000 NBA season|1999–2000 season]], he was an assistant coach for the [[Philadelphia 76ers]] under coach Larry Brown, before moving on to his next position at the University of Memphis.

Calipari is famous for popularizing the [[dribble drive motion]] offense, developed by [[Vance Walberg]], which is sometimes known as the "Memphis Attack".

In his 31 official seasons (32 seasons overall) as a collegiate head coach, Calipari's record is 855–263 (.765). His NCAA-adjusted (the records of two appearances being removed) official record in the [[NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]] is 57–22 (.721), and in the [[National Invitation Tournament|NIT]] is 15–6 (.714). His teams have made 23 NCAA tournament appearances (21 officially, due to two later being vacated), including reaching the [[NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship|Sweet Sixteen]] 16 times (14 officially, due to two later being vacated), the [[Elite Eight]] 12 times (10 officially, due to two later being vacated), the [[Final Four]] six times (four officially, due to two later being vacated), the NCAA Championship Game three times (twice officially, with the 2008 Championship Game appearance while at Memphis being vacated by the NCAA), winning the NCAA Championship at Kentucky in 2012, and finishing NCAA Runner-Up in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |title=John Calipari Coaching Record |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/coaches/john-calipari-1.html |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

As a college coach, Calipari has twenty-nine 20-win seasons (28 officially) and eleven 30-win seasons (10 officially). He has also coached six teams to the NIT, winning the NIT Championship at Memphis in [[2002 National Invitation Tournament|2002]]. He is one of only four coaches in NCAA Division I history to direct three different schools to a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weiss |first=Dick |date=May 11, 2007 |title=Great Article on Calipari from FoxSports.com's Dick Weiss |url=https://uofmtigers.blogspot.com/2007/05/great-article-on-calipari-from.html |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=Memphis Tigers Men's Basketball}}</ref>

===University of Massachusetts===
From 1988 to 1996 at UMass, Calipari led the Minutemen program to five consecutive Atlantic 10 titles and NCAA Tournament appearances, including periods where the program was ranked first nationally. He finished with a 193–71 record overall, with a 91–41 record in Atlantic 10 conference games. Calipari was named [[Atlantic 10 Conference|Atlantic 10]] Coach of the Year in 1992, 1993, and 1996. He was also named the [[Naismith College Coach of the Year|Naismith]], [[NABC Coach of the Year|NABC]], ''[[Basketball Times]]'' & ''[[Sporting News]]'' National Coach of the Year in 1996. He led UMass to its first-ever appearance in the Final Four with the play of the [[John R. Wooden Award]] winner and [[Naismith College Player of the Year]] [[Marcus Camby]], although this appearance was later vacated by the NCAA because Camby had accepted about $28,000 worth of gifts, in particular a gold chain, from two sports agents who were luring him to enter the NBA draft after his Sophomore season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_n23_v221/ai_19503011/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709033458/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_n23_v221/ai_19503011/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 9, 2012 |title=An asterisk can't ruin UMass' Final Four dream &#124; Sporting News, The &#124; Find Articles at BNET |publisher=Findarticles.com |access-date=August 9, 2009 |first=Mike |last=DeCourcy |year=1997 }}</ref>

Calipari helped accelerate the construction of the [[Mullins Center]], UMass' basketball and hockey facility. He also reached out to eastern [[Massachusetts]] and [[Boston]] to enlarge the fan base. Before moving on to the New Jersey Nets, Calipari became the second winningest coach in UMass history behind [[Jack Leaman]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/umas/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/mbb115-144.pdf |title=05FB-29-40 |access-date=August 9, 2009 |archive-date=March 26, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326095331/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/umas/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/mbb115-144.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2010, then-[[ESPN.com]] writer [[Pat Forde]], in his "Forde Minutes" column, said of the 1992 team:
{{blockquote|Calipari's greatest strength as a coach is his ability to create teams that play together. His 1992 Massachusetts team remains one of the most overachieving units The Minutes<!--The original text uses "The Minutes".--> has ever seen, featuring a shooting guard with range so limited he made one 3-pointer all season (Jim McCoy), a 6-foot-3 power forward (Will Herndon), and a left-handed center who stood all of 6–7 ([[Harper Williams]]). Somehow, that collection of marginal talent went 30–5 and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16.<ref name=Forde>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=4937960 |title=Chemistry lesson: handing out grades |work=Forde Minutes |first=Pat |last=Forde |publisher=ESPN.com |date=2010-02-23 |access-date=2010-05-07}}</ref>}}

In the Sweet 16 matchup with [[1991–92 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team|Kentucky]] in 1992, official Lenny Wirtz issued Calipari a controversial technical foul for being outside the coach's box during a crucial UMass possession. Kentucky went on to face [[1991–92 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team|Duke]] in the next round in [[The Shot (Duke–Kentucky)|one of the greatest games]] in college basketball history, won on a last-second shot by [[Christian Laettner]].

In 1993, UMass defeated defending NCAA champion and preseason #1 [[North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball|North Carolina]] in the [[NIT Season Tip-Off|pre-season NIT]] in [[Madison Square Garden]]. The following year #3 UMass defeated defending NCAA champion and #1 [[1994–95 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team|Arkansas]] in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off classic, which resulted in UMass becoming the first New England college basketball team to be voted #1 in the [[Associated Press]] poll.

During Calipari's tenure at UMass, the program became one of the most dominant in college basketball despite recruiting just one [[McDonald's All-American]] ([[Donta Bright]]) and having only two players [[NBA draft|drafted]] by an [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] team ([[Lou Roe]] and [[Marcus Camby]]). Forde recalled the Final Four team in Calipari's final UMass season in [[1995–96 UMass Minutemen basketball team|1995–96]] as a squad "with one superstar (Marcus Camby) and a collection of complementary parts".<ref name=Forde/> By winning both the Atlantic 10 regular season and conference tournament championships from 1992 to 1996, UMass became the second team in college basketball history to win 5 consecutive regular season and conference tournament championships ([[NC State Wolfpack men's basketball|NC State]] was the first).

The Calipari Room, a classroom in the [[Du Bois Library]] at UMass, is so named in recognition of donations from the Calipari family.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1028056/2019/06/14/the-power-of-opportunity-caliparis-children-have-run-from-his-shadow-to-pursue-their-own-dreams/| title=The power of opportunity: Calipari's children have run from his shadow to pursue their own dreams| last=Tucker| first=Kyle| date=June 14, 2019| work=The New York Times}}</ref>

===New Jersey Nets and Philadelphia 76ers===
In the [[1996–97 NBA season|1996–97 season]], John Calipari replaced [[Butch Beard]] as head coach of the New Jersey Nets. After a 26–56 debut season, the Nets made a major draft-day trade in June 1997, acquiring [[Keith Van Horn]], [[Lucious Harris]] and two other players in exchange for [[Tim Thomas (basketball)|Tim Thomas]].

In 1997, while coaching the New Jersey Nets, Calipari directed profanities at ''[[The Star-Ledger|Star-Ledger]]'' sports reporter Dan Garcia and referred to him as a "Mexican idiot".<ref name="nytimes">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/25/sports/calipari-apologizes-publicly-for-his-slur.html|title=Calipari Apologizes Publicly for His Slur|last=Roberts|first=Selena|date=March 25, 1997|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Garcia sued for $5,000,000 for emotional distress. Though the case was dismissed<ref>{{cite web|url=http://umasshoops.com/history/alumni/john_calipari/news/nba_education03131998.htm|title=NBA education of John Calipari|date=March 13, 1998|publisher=Umasshoops.com|access-date=August 9, 2009}}</ref> and Calipari apologized for his remarks,<ref name="nytimes" /> he was still fined $25,000 by the NBA.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/27/sports/stern-fines-calipari-25000-for-insulting-reporter.html|title=Stern Fines Calipari $25,000 for Insulting Reporter|last=Roberts|first=Selena|date=March 27, 1997|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

The [[1997–98 NBA season|1997–98 season]] was a lone bright spot for the Nets in the late 1990s. The [[1997–98 New Jersey Nets season|team]] played well under Calipari, winning 43 games and qualifying for the playoffs on the last day of the season. The Nets were seeded eighth in the Eastern Conference and lost to the [[Chicago Bulls]] in the [[1998 NBA Playoffs|1998 playoffs]] in three straight games.

The [[1998–99 NBA season|1998–99 season]] was delayed for three months due to an owners' lockout of the players. When the abbreviated 50-game season began, the Nets were a choice by experts as a surprise team. However, [[Sam Cassell]] was injured in the first game and the team started poorly. With the Nets underachieving at 3–15, the Nets traded Cassell to the [[Milwaukee Bucks]], while the Nets acquired [[Stephon Marbury]] from the [[Minnesota Timberwolves]]. After two more losses, Calipari was fired as head coach with the team at 3–17. He finished his tenure with an overall record of 72 wins and 112 losses and a .391 overall winning percentage. He then joined Larry Brown as an assistant coach for the [[Philadelphia 76ers]].<ref name=post_gazette>{{cite news|last=Cook|first=Ron|title=Memphis coach Calipari remembers his roots|url=http://old.post-gazette.com/pg/08096/870837-291.stm|access-date=April 5, 2012|newspaper=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|date=April 5, 2008}}</ref>

===University of Memphis===
[[File:Calipari CIMG0087.JPG|thumb|right|Calipari directing his players during an away game against [[Conference USA]] rival [[Houston Cougars men's basketball|University of Houston]] in January 2007.]]
Calipari became head coach at the University of Memphis in 2000. In Calipari's first nine years as head coach at Memphis, he won 214 games (38 wins were vacated) and posted seven consecutive 20-win seasons, plus one more in his final season (including an NCAA record four consecutive 30-win seasons, though the third season was vacated and this record no longer holds). He also earned seven consecutive postseason bids (plus one in his final season). His 2007–2008 team's 38 victories set a new NCAA Division I Men's Basketball record for most victories in a season, a record that now belongs to the 2011–2012 Kentucky Wildcats due to NCAA violations that vacated all of Memphis' wins. The nine consecutive 20-win seasons and the nine consecutive postseason appearances would have been the most in school history, though that officially stands now at seven because of the vacated 2007–08 season. He was named [[Conference USA]] Coach of the Year in 2006, 2008, and 2009. In 2008, he was named [[Naismith College Coach of the Year]], receiving the honor for the second time.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.nwahomepage.com/sports/pig-trail-nation/ink-is-dry-former-kentucky-coach-john-calipari-signs-multi-year-deal-to-become-new-head-coach-of-arkansas-mens-basketball/| title=Ink is dry! See the details of former Kentucky coach John Calipari's multi-year deal as new Arkansas men's basketball head coach| last=McPherson| first=Kevin| date=April 10, 2024| website=Pig Trail Nation}}</ref> In 2009, he was named [[Sports Illustrated]] College Basketball Coach of the Year.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Blake Griffin, John Calipari lead SI.com's All-America team |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/basketball/ncaa/mens-tournament/03/18/all.americans/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090321141806/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/basketball/ncaa/mens-tournament/03/18/all.americans/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 21, 2009 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=March 18, 2009 }}</ref>

He built a national program by recruiting [[blue chip (sports)|blue chip]] players from the Eastern part of the country, such as [[Dajuan Wagner]] from Camden (NJ), [[Darius Washington Jr.]] from [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]] (FL), [[Rodney Carney]] from [[Indianapolis]] (IN), [[Shawne Williams]] from [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]] (TN), [[Joey Dorsey]] from [[Baltimore]] (MD), [[Chris Douglas-Roberts]] from [[Detroit]] (MI), [[Antonio Anderson]] from Lynn (MA), [[Robert Dozier (basketball)|Robert Dozier]] from Lithonia (GA), [[Derrick Rose]] from [[Chicago]] (IL), and [[Tyreke Evans]] from Aston (PA).

While at Memphis, Calipari popularized the [[Dribble drive motion|dribble drive]] motion offense that was invented by former [[Pepperdine Waves men's basketball|Pepperdine]] basketball coach [[Vance Walberg]].<ref>Mike DeCourcy. ''The Sporting News''.  [http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=258992 "Pepperdine's offense is a recruiting tool, too"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071225061036/http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=258992 |date=December 25, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Katz | first=Andy | title=Katz: Cal stayed to make it back to the top | website=ESPN.com | date=2007-10-19 | url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/columns/story?columnist=katz_andy&id=3066270&campaign=rss&source=NCAAHeadlines | access-date=2025-05-29}}</ref>

On January 21, 2008, Calipari led the Tigers to the No. 1 ranking in the [[AP Poll]] for only the second time in school history.

In 2006 and 2008, Memphis earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA men's basketball tournament. In [[2007–08 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2008]], Calipari's Tigers advanced to the [[2008 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Game|national championship game]], their first under his leadership. They also won 38 games, the most regular-season wins in NCAA history (his 2011–12 Kentucky team would also go on to win 38 games). His team, however, would lose to the [[2007–08 Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team|Kansas Jayhawks]], 75–68, in [[overtime (sports)|overtime]]. This team later had its entire season record vacated by the NCAA because the [[Educational Testing Service]] (ETS), which administers the [[SAT]] college admissions test, invalidated [[Derrick Rose]]'s score on that test. Despite this, Rose still denies any wrongdoing. The NCAA began to investigate the test and contacted the ETS. Because the NCAA had begun to investigate, ETS decided to review the test. The ETS sent three letters to Rose's family's former address in Chicago (instead of his dorm in Memphis) to ask that Rose verify some information on his test. Because he did not reply to the letters, ETS invalidated his SAT. This happened even though the NCAA investigated and reported that they could not find significant evidence to prove that Rose did not take the test. Because the ETS had invalidated the test, the NCAA retroactively declared Rose ineligible. To this day, the official position of the NCAA is that Rose did take his own SAT. If not for the vacated wins, Calipari would be the winningest coach in Tigers history, as he would have 252 wins to [[Larry Finch]]'s 220.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rose |first=Derrick |title=I'll Show You |date=September 10, 2019 |publisher=Triumph Books |isbn=9781641252874 |language=English}}</ref>

On May 28, 2010, John Calipari, Derrick Rose, and University of Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson reached a $100,000 [[settlement (litigation)|out-of-court settlement]] with three attorneys who represented Memphis season ticket holders and threatened a lawsuit over the vacated 2007–08 season. Also as part of the settlement, Calipari donated his near-$232,000 [[Performance-related pay|bonus]] to the Memphis scholarship fund.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/oct/06/deal-put-price-tag-memphis-tiger-disgrace/|title=Threat of lawsuit brings bonus repayment from John Calipari, R.C. Johnson, donation from Derrick Rose|author=Veazey, Kyle|date=October 7, 2011|work=Memphis Commercial-Appeal|access-date=May 16, 2014}}</ref>

===University of Kentucky===
[[File:John-Calipari.jpg|thumb|Calipari on the bench for the [[Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball|Kentucky Wildcats]], 2009]]
On March 30, 2009, four days after Memphis' season ending loss to Missouri in the [[2009 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]], multiple sources reported that Calipari would agree to be the head coach at the [[University of Kentucky]], after UK's head coach, [[Billy Gillispie]], was fired after two unsuccessful seasons at the school.<ref>WHAS11 News "[http://www.whas11.com/sports/stories/whas11-topstory-090330-calipari-uk-coach.87f62981.html John Calipari accepts offer to be new UK basketball coach] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090402112651/http://www.whas11.com/sports/stories/whas11-topstory-090330-calipari-uk-coach.87f62981.html |date=2009-04-02 }}", ''[[WHAS-TV]]'', March 30, 2009. Retrieved on March 30, 2009.</ref> Calipari rejected a counter offer by Memphis for Kentucky's 8 year, $31.65 million contract.<ref name="ESPN">{{Cite web |date=2009-03-31 |title=Calipari decides to leave Memphis for Kentucky |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=4031573 |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press |language=en}}</ref>

According to university officials, John Calipari signed a written contract on March 31, 2009. The contract was worth $34.65 million over 8 years, plus incentives.<ref name="ESPN" /> On April 1, 2009, the University of Kentucky Director of Athletics, Mitch Barnhart, formally introduced John Calipari as the new coach of the University of Kentucky Wildcats. During the press conference, Calipari spoke at length about his relationships with former UK basketball players and coaches, and also in his difficulties in accepting the UK job, largely due to his deep emotional ties with both the city of Memphis and University of Memphis. Calipari stated, "Coming to UK was the easy part, it was leaving the city of Memphis that was the hard part." He went on to refer to the University of Kentucky coaching position as his "dream job".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Howlett |first=Ken |date=May 15, 2009 |title=UK Basketball: John Calipari Speaks -- My Take |url=https://www.aseaofblue.com/2009/5/15/875832/uk-basketball-john-calipari-speaks |access-date=April 24, 2024 |website=A Sea of Blue}}</ref> Calipari became the 22nd coach overall at Kentucky, and just the 7th coach in the last 79 years for the Wildcats.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wallace |first=Tom |title=University of Kentucky Basketball Encyclopedia |date=October 18, 2016 |publisher=Sports Publishing |isbn=978-1613218921 |publication-date=October 18, 2016 |language=English}}</ref>

====2009–10====
{{Main|2009–10 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team}}
In his first year as head coach, Calipari had a highly touted recruiting class, including the No. 1 overall rated recruit, [[John Wall]], plus fellow 5-star recruits, [[DeMarcus Cousins]], [[Eric Bledsoe]], and [[Daniel Orton]]. On December 21, 2009, Calipari led the Cats to their 12th victory of the season and the program's 2,000th victory ever. Kentucky won its 44th SEC Regular Season Championship in 2009–10, with a 14–2 conference record. Calipari's team followed this up with the UK's 26th SEC Tournament Championship, with an overtime defeat of Mississippi State, 75–74, in the SEC Tournament title game. In the NCAA Tournament, however, No. 1 seed Kentucky (East Region) was upset by [[2009–10 West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team|West Virginia]] in the Elite 8, to finish the season at 35–3.
[[File:John Calipari press conference (cropped).jpg|thumb|Calipari in 2011]]

====2010–11====
{{Main|2010–11 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team}}
In his second season at Kentucky, Calipari recruited the No. 1 rated point guard in the 2010 class, [[Brandon Knight (basketball)|Brandon Knight]]. In addition to Knight, Calipari also signed two other 5-star recruits, [[Terrence Jones]] and [[Doron Lamb]]. In 2010–11, Kentucky finished the regular season with a record of 22–8, with a 10–6 record in SEC regular season play. UK would go on to win its second consecutive SEC Tournament Championship, defeating Florida, 70–54, in the SEC Tournament title game. As a result, Kentucky received a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament (East Regional). During the NCAA Tournament, Kentucky would go on to defeat No. 1 overall seed [[2010–11 Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball team|Ohio State]], 62–60, in the Sweet-16. In the Elite Eight, Calipari's team would avenge an early season loss to [[2010–11 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|North Carolina]], by defeating the Tar Heels, 76–69, securing Kentucky's first Final Four appearance since 1998. In the Final Four, UK fell to the eventual NCAA Champions, [[2010–11 Connecticut Huskies men's basketball team|UConn]], by one point, 56–55, finishing with a final record of 29–9.

====2011–12====
{{Main|2011–12 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team}}
[[File:20120919 Tom Izzo and John Calipari cropped.jpg|thumb|[[Tom Izzo]] and Calipari, two of the highest paid college coaches in 2012,<ref name="Tom Van Riper">{{cite news|author=Tom Van Riper |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomvanriper/2012/03/05/the-highest-paid-college-basketball-coaches/ |title= The highest-paid college basketball coaches |work=[[Forbes]] |date=March 5, 2012 |access-date=May 5, 2012}}</ref> talk while scouting a blue chip recruit]]
In this third season, Kentucky landed another No. 1 recruiting class with four consensus five star players: [[Anthony Davis]], [[Marquis Teague]], [[Michael Kidd-Gilchrist]] and [[Kyle Wiltjer]]. Kentucky came into the season ranked #2 in the country. They finished the regular season with a 30–1 record, their only loss to [[2011–12 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team|Indiana]] by a buzzer-beater and went 16–0 in conference play. In the SEC tournament, Kentucky lost in the championship game to [[2011–12 Vanderbilt Commodores men's basketball team|Vanderbilt]] 71–64. In the NCAA Tournament, Calipari's team was selected as the overall #1 seed in the tournament, representing as the South Region #1 seed. Kentucky avenged the early season loss to Indiana beating them in the Sweet Sixteen 102–90, and knocked off [[2011–12 Baylor Bears basketball team|Baylor]] in the Elite Eight 82–70, to advance to their second consecutive Final Four. In the [[Final Four]] in [[New Orleans]], Kentucky first faced their in-state rival, the [[2011–12 Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team|Louisville Cardinals]] and [[Rick Pitino]], winning 69–61. Two days later, in the National Championship game, Kentucky played in another early season rematch against the [[2011–12 Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team|Kansas Jayhawks]], winning a hard-fought contest 67–59. The win secured Calipari his first NCAA Championship, an NCAA record 38-win season, and the 8th overall NCAA Championship for Kentucky. By doing so, John Calipari became the 5th head coach to win an NCAA Championship at Kentucky (an NCAA record), and the first coach to do so at the school since [[Tubby Smith]] in 1998.

Following the 2012 championship, UK Athletics Director [[Mitch Barnhart]] announced on May 4 that Calipari's contract had been renegotiated. Under the new contract, Calipari would make up to $8 million annually<ref>{{cite news|agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/kentucky-gives-john-calipari-a-raise-following-ncaa-title-extends-contracts-of-assistants/2012/05/04/gIQAf4fa1T_story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505153201/http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/kentucky-gives-john-calipari-a-raise-following-ncaa-title-extends-contracts-of-assistants/2012/05/04/gIQAf4fa1T_story.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 5, 2012 |title= Kentucky gives Calipari a raise following NCAA title |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] |date=May 4, 2012 |access-date=May 5, 2012}}</ref> (not including bonuses), which further cemented his status as one of the most highly compensated college basketball coaches in the country.

====2014====

The [[platoon system]] established under John Calipari not only provided life for the University of Kentucky's basketball team in 2014, but it also provided an important defensive weapon. The [[platoon system]] was introduced in 2014, and consisted of playing 10 men in legions of five. Each platoon includes three ball-handlers and two taller players.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pedersen |first=Brian |title=Kentucky Basketball: Breaking Down How UK's Platoon System Has Worked So Far |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2276072-kentucky-basketball-breaking-down-how-uks-platoon-system-has-worked-so-far |access-date=October 26, 2022 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}</ref>

====2019–24====
In April 2019, Calipari agreed to a "lifetime" contract with Kentucky, centered on a 10-year coaching extension, and a lifetime paid ambassadorship when he retires.<ref name="o169">{{cite news | last=Bieler | first=Des | title=John Calipari agrees to lifetime contract with Kentucky | newspaper=Washington Post | date=2019-04-02 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/04/02/john-calipari-agrees-lifetime-contract-with-kentucky/?noredirect=on | access-date=2024-12-24}}</ref>

On April 9, 2024, Calipari announced he would be leaving Kentucky, but did not immediately announce plans to retire or accept another job.<ref name="n221">{{cite web | last=Salerno | first=Cameron | title=Arkansas hires John Calipari: Ex-Kentucky coach agrees to five-year deal with salary starting at $7 million | website=CBSSports.com | date=2024-04-09 | url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/arkansas-hires-john-calipari-ex-kentucky-coach-agrees-to-five-year-deal-with-salary-starting-at-7-million/ | access-date=2024-12-24}}</ref>

===University of Arkansas===
On April 10, 2024, Calipari was named the head coach at Arkansas, signing a 5-year deal worth $7 million a season. The deal also included a signing bonus of $1 million, annual $500,000 retention bonuses, and incentives based on the Razorbacks' NCAA Tournament performances.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hall Of Fame Coach John Calipari To Lead Razorback Basketball
 |url=https://arkansasrazorbacks.com/hall-of-fame-coach-john-calipari-to-lead-razorback-basketball/ |website=arkansasrazorbacks.com|date=April 10, 2024 }}</ref>

Calipari led the Razorbacks to the [[2025 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|Sweet 16]] for the fourth time in five years in his first season at the helm.<ref>{{cite web | last=Myerberg | first=Paul | title=Arkansas in Sweet 16 of March Madness after SEC turnaround | website=USA TODAY | date=2025-03-23 | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2025/03/22/arkansas-sweet-16-march-madness-sec-turnaround/82617770007/ | access-date=2025-05-19}}</ref> As a 10 seed, his team knocked off a [[Bill Self]]- led Kansas team and then a [[Rick Pitino]]-led St. John's team before falling to Texas Tech in overtime in the regional semifinals in San Francisco's [[Chase Center]]. It was Calipari's first trip to the second weekend since 2019.

==College statistics==
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1978–79
| style="text-align:left;"| UNC Wilmington
| 25
| N/A
| N/A
| .235
| N/A
| .840
| 0.3
| 0.9
| 0.0
| 0.0
| 1.2
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1980–81
| style="text-align:left;"| Clarion
| 19
| N/A
| N/A
| .457
| N/A
| .615
| 0.9
| 2.6
| 0.9
| 0.0
| 3.1
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 1981–82
| style="text-align:left;"| Clarion
| 27
| N/A
| N/A
| .387
| N/A
| .717
| 1.0
| 5.3
| 1.3
| 0.1
| 5.3
{{s-end}}

==Head coaching record==
===College===
{{CBB Yearly Record Start | type = | conference = | postseason = | poll = }}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name       = [[UMass Minutemen basketball|UMass Minutemen]]
 | conference = [[Atlantic 10 Conference]]
 | startyear  = 1988
 | endyear    = 1996
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship =
 | season       = [[1988–89 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1988–89]]
 | name         = UMass
 | overall      = 10–18
 | conference   = 5–13
 | confstanding = 8th
 | postseason   =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship =
 | season       = [[1989–90 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1989–90]]
 | name         = UMass
 | overall      = 17–14
 | conference   = 10–8
 | confstanding = 6th
 | postseason   = [[1990 National Invitation Tournament|NIT First Round]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship =
 | season       = [[1990–91 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1990–91]]
 | name         = UMass
 | overall      = 20–13
 | conference   = 10–8
 | confstanding = T–3rd
 | postseason   = [[1991 National Invitation Tournament|NIT Fourth Place]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = confboth
 | season       = [[1991–92 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1991–92]]
 | name         = [[1991–92 UMass Minutemen men's basketball team|UMass]]
 | overall      = 30–5
 | conference   = 13–3
 | confstanding = 1st
 | postseason   = [[1992 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I Sweet 16]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = confboth
 | season       = [[1992–93 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1992–93]]
 | name         = [[1992–93 UMass Minutemen men's basketball team|UMass]]
 | overall      = 24–7
 | conference   = 11–3
 | confstanding = 1st
 | postseason   = [[1993 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I Round of 32]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = confboth
 | season       = [[1993–94 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1993–94]]
 | name         = [[1993–94 UMass Minutemen basketball team|UMass]]
 | overall      = 28–7
 | conference   = 14–2
 | confstanding = 1st
 | postseason   = [[1994 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I Round of 32]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = confboth
 | season       = [[1994–95 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1994–95]]
 | name         = [[1994–95 UMass Minutemen basketball team|UMass]]
 | overall      = 29–5
 | conference   = 13–3
 | confstanding = 1st
 | postseason   = [[1995 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I Elite Eight]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = confboth
 | season       = [[1995–96 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|1995–96]]
 | name         = [[1995–96 UMass Minutemen basketball team|UMass]]
 | overall      = 35–2{{anchor|1*a}}[[#*|*]]
 | conference   = 15–1
 | confstanding = 1st
 | postseason   = [[1996 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I Final Four]]{{anchor|1*b}}[[#*|*]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = UMass
 | overall    = {{Winning percentage|189|70|record=y}}{{anchor|1*c}}[[#*|*]]
 | confrecord = {{Winning percentage|91|41|record=y}}
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name       = [[Memphis Tigers men's basketball|Memphis Tigers]]
 | conference = [[Conference USA]]
 | startyear  = 2000
 | endyear    = 2009
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship =
 | season       = [[2000–01 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2000–01]]
 | name         = Memphis
 | overall      = 21–15
 | conference   = 10–6
 | confstanding = 2nd <small>(National)</small>
 | postseason   = [[2001 National Invitation Tournament|NIT Third Place]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = postseason
 | season       = [[2001–02 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2001–02]]
 | name         = Memphis
 | overall      = 27–9
 | conference   = 12–4
 | confstanding = 1st <small>(National)</small>
 | postseason   = [[2002 National Invitation Tournament|NIT Champion]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = division
 | season       = [[2002–03 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2002–03]]
 | name         = [[2002–03 Memphis Tigers men's basketball team|Memphis]]
 | overall      = 23–7
 | conference   = 13–3
 | confstanding = 1st <small>(National)</small>
 | postseason   = [[2003 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I Round of 64]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference
 | season       = [[2003–04 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2003–04]]
 | name         = [[2003–04 Memphis Tigers men's basketball team|Memphis]]
 | overall      = 22–8
 | conference   = 12–4
 | confstanding = T–1st
 | postseason   = [[2004 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I Round of 32]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | season       = [[2004–05 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2004–05]]
 | name         = Memphis
 | overall      = 22–16
 | conference   = 9–7
 | confstanding = T–6th
 | postseason   = [[2005 National Invitation Tournament|NIT Semifinal]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = confboth
 | season       = [[2005–06 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2005–06]]
 | name         = [[2005–06 Memphis Tigers men's basketball team|Memphis]]
 | overall      = 33–4
 | conference   = 13–1
 | confstanding = 1st
 | postseason   = [[2006 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I Elite Eight]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = confboth
 | season       = [[2006–07 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2006–07]]
 | name         = [[2006–07 Memphis Tigers men's basketball team|Memphis]]
 | overall      = 33–4
 | conference   = 16–0
 | confstanding = 1st
 | postseason   = [[2007 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I Elite Eight]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = confboth
 | season       = [[2007–08 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2007–08]]
 | name         = [[2007–08 Memphis Tigers men's basketball team|Memphis]]
 | overall      = 38–2{{anchor|2*a}}[[#**|**]]
 | conference   = 16–0{{anchor|2*b}}[[#**|**]]
 | confstanding = 1st {{anchor|2*c}}[[#**|**]]
 | postseason   = [[2008 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I Runner-up]]{{anchor|2*d}}[[#**|**]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = confboth
 | season       = [[2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2008–09]]
 | name         = [[2008–09 Memphis Tigers men's basketball team|Memphis]]
 | overall      = 33–4
 | conference   = 16–0
 | confstanding = 1st
 | postseason   = [[2009 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I Sweet 16]]
}}{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Memphis
 | overall    = {{Winning percentage|214|68|record=y}}{{anchor|2*e}}[[#**|**]]
 | confrecord = {{Winning percentage|101|25|record=y}}{{anchor|2*f}}[[#**|**]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name       = [[Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball|Kentucky Wildcats]]
 | conference = [[Southeastern Conference]]
 | startyear  = 2009
 | endyear    = 2024 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = confboth
 | season       = [[2009–10 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2009–10]]
 | name         = [[2009–10 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team|Kentucky]]
 | overall      = 35–3
 | conference   = 14–2
 | confstanding = 1st <small>(East)</small>
 | postseason   = [[2010 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I Elite Eight]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference tournament
 | season       = [[2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2010–11]]
 | name         = [[2010–11 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team|Kentucky]]
 | overall      = 29–9
 | conference   = 10–6
 | confstanding = 2nd <small>(East)</small>
 | postseason   = [[2011 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I Final Four]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = national
 | season       = [[2011–12 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2011–12]]
 | name         = [[2011–12 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team|Kentucky]]
 | overall      = 38–2
 | conference   = 16–0
 | confstanding = 1st
 | postseason   = [[2012 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I Champion]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship =
 | season       = [[2012–13 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2012–13]]
 | name         = [[2012–13 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team|Kentucky]]
 | overall      = 21–12
 | conference   = 12–6
 | confstanding = T–2nd
 | postseason   = [[2013 National Invitation Tournament|NIT First Round]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[2013–14 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2013–14]]
 | name         = [[2013–14 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team|Kentucky]]
 | overall      = 29–11
 | conference   = 12–6
 | confstanding = T–2nd
 | postseason   = [[2014 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I Runner-up]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = confboth
 | season       = [[2014–15 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2014–15]]
 | name         = [[2014–15 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team|Kentucky]]
 | overall      = 38–1
 | conference   = 18–0
 | confstanding = 1st
 | postseason   = [[2015 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I Final Four]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = confboth
 | season       = [[2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2015–16]]
 | name         = [[2015–16 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team|Kentucky]]
 | overall      = 27–9
 | conference   = 13–5
 | confstanding = T–1st
 | postseason   = [[2016 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I Round of 32]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = confboth
 | season       = [[2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2016–17]]
 | name         = [[2016–17 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team|Kentucky]]
 | overall      = 32–6
 | conference   = 16–2
 | confstanding = 1st
 | postseason   =  [[2017 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I Elite Eight]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference tournament 
 | season       = [[2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2017–18]]
 | name         = [[2017–18 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team|Kentucky]]
 | overall      = 26–11
 | conference   = 10–8
 | confstanding = T–4th
 | postseason   = [[2018 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I Sweet 16]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | season       = [[2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2018–19]]
 | name         = [[2018–19 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team|Kentucky]]
 | overall      = 30–7
 | conference   = 15–3
 | confstanding = T–2nd
 | postseason   = [[2019 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I Elite Eight]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference
 | season       = [[2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2019–20]]
 | name         = [[2019–20 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team|Kentucky]]
 | overall      = 25–6
 | conference   = 15–3
 | confstanding = 1st
 | postseason   = <SMALL> Postseason cancelled due to [[COVID-19]]</SMALL>
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season        = [[2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2020–21]]
| name          = [[2020–21 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team|Kentucky]]
| overall       = 9–16
| conference    = 8–9
| confstanding  = 8th
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season        = [[2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2021–22]]
| name          = [[2021–22 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team|Kentucky]]
| overall       = 26–8
| conference    = 14–4
| confstanding  = T–2nd
| postseason    = [[2022 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I Round of 64]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season        = [[2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2022–23]]
| name          = [[2022–23 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team|Kentucky]]
| overall       = 22–12
| conference    = 12–6
| confstanding  = 3rd
| postseason    = [[2023 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I Round of 32]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season        = [[2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2023–24]]
| name          = [[2023–24 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team|Kentucky]]
| overall       = 23–10
| conference    = 13–5
| confstanding  = T–2nd
| postseason    = [[2024 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I Round of 64]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Kentucky
 | overall    = {{Winning percentage|410|123|record=y}}
 | confrecord = {{Winning percentage|198|65|record=y}}
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name       = [[Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball|Arkansas Razorbacks]]
 | conference = [[Southeastern Conference]]
 | startyear  = 2024
 | endyear    = 
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| season        = [[2024–25 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2024–25]]
| name          = [[2024–25 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team|Arkansas]]
| overall       = 22–14
| conference    = 8–10
| confstanding  = T–9th
| postseason    = [[2025 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA Division I Sweet 16]]
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Arkansas
 | overall    = {{Winning percentage|22|14|record=y}}
 | confrecord = {{Winning percentage|8|10|record=y}}
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record End
 | overall = {{Winning percentage|835|275|record=y}}{{anchor|3*}}[[#***|***]]
}}

{{va|*}} ^[[#1*a|<sup>a</sup>]]{{hsp}}[[#1*b|<sup>b</sup>]]{{hsp}}[[#1*c|<sup>c</sup>]] UMass had its 4–1 record in the 1996 NCAA tournament and Final Four standing vacated after [[Marcus Camby]] was ruled ineligible due to his contact with a sports agent.

{{va|**}} ^[[#2*a|<sup>a</sup>]]{{hsp}}[[#2*b|<sup>b</sup>]]{{hsp}}[[#2*c|<sup>c</sup>]]{{hsp}}[[#2*d|<sup>d</sup>]]{{hsp}}[[#2*e|<sup>e</sup>]]{{hsp}}[[#2*f|<sup>f</sup>]]{{hsp}} The NCAA vacated 38 wins and 1 loss from Memphis's 2007–08 season under Calipari due to violations of NCAA rules.<ref>{{cite news |title=Memphis NCAA Violations |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=4412279 |publisher=ESPN |date=August 21, 2009 }}</ref>

{{va|***}} [[#3*|^]] Under current NCAA official records, Calipari's record as of March 19, 2023, is 790–251 (.759), which accounts for the 4 vacated wins (and one vacated loss) in the 1995–96 NCAA Tournament at UMass, and the 38 vacated wins (and 1 vacated losses) at Memphis in the entire 2007–08 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/31836/ncaa-calls-john-caliparis-win-total-wrong |title=NCAA calls John Calipari's win total wrong |work=ESPN |first=Eamonn |last=Brennan |date=June 13, 2011 |access-date=February 26, 2012}}</ref>

Calipari's actual on-the-court record without vacated games is {{Winning percentage|877|276|record=y}}

{{small|****The [[2020 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2020 NCAA tournament]] was canceled due to concerns over the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19 pandemic]].}}

===NBA===
{{NBA coach statistics legend}}
{{NBA coach statistics start}}
|-
| align="left" |[[1996–97 New Jersey Nets season|New Jersey]]
| align="left" |{{nbay|1996}}
| 82||26||56||.317|| align="center" |5th in Atlantic||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |Missed Playoffs
|-
| align="left" |[[1997–98 New Jersey Nets season|New Jersey]]
| align="left" |{{nbay|1997}}
| 82||43||39||.524|| align="center" |3rd in Atlantic||3||0||3||.000
| align="center" |Lost in [[1998 NBA Playoffs|first round]]
|-
| align="left" |[[1998–99 New Jersey Nets season|New Jersey]]
| align="left" |{{nbay|1998|trunc=y}}
| 20||3||17||.150|| align="center" |7th in Atlantic||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |Fired
|-
|-class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:left;"|'''Career'''
| ||184||72||112||.391|| ||3||0||3||.000
{{S-end}}

===Overall wins===
On February 26, 2011, after Kentucky beat the [[Florida Gators men's basketball|Florida Gators]] in [[Rupp Arena]], Calipari was recognized for his 500th career victory as a Division I men's basketball coach. Over the course of the next few months, the NCAA's Committee on Infractions (COI) and the [[University of Kentucky]] exchanged letters debating whether Calipari had indeed reached the 500-win milestone. Due to games vacated by the NCAA in two different seasons (the 1996 season at UMass and the 2008 season at Memphis), the NCAA only officially recognized Calipari's 500th all time coaching victory on March 15, 2012.<ref>Anon., [https://web.archive.org/web/20180320112728/http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=320750096 "Kentucky too much for WKU as top-seeded Cats cruise"], [[Associated Press]], March 16, 2012.</ref>

==Coaching tree==
Assistant coaches under Calipari who became NCAA or NBA head coaches
*[[Bill Bayno]] – [[UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball|UNLV]] (1995–2000), [[Loyola Marymount Lions men's basketball|Loyola Marymount]] (2008–2009)
*[[Bruiser Flint]] – [[UMass Minutemen basketball|UMass]] (1996–2001), [[Drexel Dragons men's basketball|Drexel]] (2001–2016)
*[[John Robic]] – [[Youngstown State Penguins men's basketball|Youngstown State]] (1999–2005)
*[[Don Casey]] – [[New Jersey Nets]] (1999–2000)
*[[Johnny Davis (basketball, born 1955)|Johnny Davis]] – [[Orlando Magic]] (2003–2005)
*[[Derek Kellogg]] – [[UMass Minutemen basketball|UMass]] (2008–2017), [[LIU Sharks men's basketball|LIU]] (2017–2022)
*[[Chuck Martin (basketball)|Chuck Martin]] – [[Marist Red Foxes men's basketball|Marist]] (2008–2013)
*[[Josh Pastner]] – [[Memphis Tigers men's basketball|Memphis]] (2009–2016), [[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets men's basketball|Georgia Tech]] (2016–2023)[[UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball|UNLV]] (2025–present)
*[[Orlando Antigua]] – [[South Florida Bulls men's basketball|South Florida]] (2014–2017)
*[[Tony Barbee]] – [[UTEP Miners men's basketball|UTEP]] (2006–2010), [[Auburn Tigers men's basketball|Auburn]] (2010–2014), [[Central Michigan Chippewas men's basketball|Central Michigan]] (2021–2025)
*[[Kenny Payne]] – [[Louisville Cardinals men's basketball|Louisville]] (2022–2024)
*[[Rod Strickland]] – [[LIU Sharks men's basketball|LIU]] (2022–present)
*[[K. T. Turner]] – [[UT Arlington Mavericks men's basketball|UT Arlington]] (2023–present)
*[[Ed Schilling]] – [[Wright State Raiders men's basketball|Wright State]] (1997–2003), [[Pepperdine Waves men's basketball|Pepperdine]] (2024–present)

==Awards and honors==
Calipari was inducted into the [[National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame]] in 2004.

On September 11, 2015, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. As of the 2024–25 NCAA Division I college basketball season, John Calipari is one of only 6 active coaches enshrined (Rick Pitino, Tom Izzo, Geno Auriemma, Kim Mulkey and [[Bill Self]]).

On September 21, 2021, the main basketball court at Clarion University's Tippin Gymnasium was officially renamed the John V. Calipari Court and will be known as "Coach Cal Court."

==Books==
He has written several books, including ''Bounce Back: Overcoming Setbacks to Succeed in Business and in Life'' (2009)<ref>{{cite book|last1=Scott|first1=John Calipari with David|title=Bounce back : overcoming setbacks to succeed in business and in life|date=2009|publisher=Free Press|location=New York|isbn=9781416597506|edition=1st Free Press hardcover}}</ref> and ''Players First: Coaching from the Inside Out'' (2014).<ref>{{cite book|last1=Calipari|first1=John|last2=Sokolove|first2=Michael|title=Players first : coaching from the inside out|date=2014|publisher=Penguin Press |isbn=978-1594205736}}</ref> Additionally, Calipari starred in the 30 for 30 documentary from ESPN "One and Not Done" which details his professional career.

==Personal life==
Calipari, who has dual citizenship in the U.S. and Italy,<ref name=Rothstein>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/28484240/brad-calipari-finds-court-detroit |title='You can't say it's because of my dad anymore': Brad Calipari finds himself — and the court — in Detroit |first=Michael |last=Rothstein |website=ESPN.com |date=January 16, 2020 |access-date=January 16, 2020}}</ref> has been married to his wife since 1986. They have two daughters and a son. His daughter [[Erin Calipari|Erin]] played basketball at [[University of Massachusetts|UMass]],<ref name=Rothstein/> and his son Brad played basketball at Kentucky and Detroit Mercy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://heavy.com/sports/2015/04/john-calipari-wife-ellen-married-daughters-kids-family/|title=Ellen Calipari, John's Wife: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know|last=Adams|first=Jonathan|date=April 4, 2015|website=Heavy.com|language=en|access-date=February 15, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://heavy.com/sports/2015/04/john-calipari-erin-daughters-kids-family-wife-umass/|title=Erin Calipari, John's Daughter: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know|last=Dwyer|first=Danielle|date=April 4, 2015|website=Heavy.com|language=en|access-date=February 16, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/ex-cats/article232152162.html |title=Kentucky transfer Brad Calipari hopes to 'make a major impact' at new school |first=Dennis |last=Varney |newspaper=Lexington Herald-Leader |date=July 1, 2019 |access-date=July 1, 2019}}</ref> His second cousin is [[TJ Friedl]], a baseball player.<ref name="t889">{{cite web | last=Thompson | first=Tyler | title=John Calipari's cousin TJ Friedl plays for the Louisville Bats | website=On3 | date=2021-08-03 | url=https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-wildcats/news/john-caliparis-cousin-tj-friedl-plays-for-the-louisville-bats/ | access-date=2025-03-07}}</ref>

Calipari appeared at Governor [[Andy Beshear]]'s July 9, 2020, press briefing to publicly state his support of the [[Kentucky]] statewide mask mandate due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Kentucky]] stating: "We in our state have done an unbelievable job," Calipari said. "Let's take it up a notch. This is kind of like what I'm coaching: We're winning, and I'm being even harder. We are winning, let's be stronger." He made it clear that he volunteered to appear and the governor did not request his appearance.<ref name="u200">{{cite web | last=Ladd | first=Sarah | title=Gov. Beshear: Kentuckians must wear masks in public starting Friday | website=Courier-Journal | date=2020-07-09 | url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/2020/07/09/gov-beshear-kentuckians-must-wear-masks-public-starting-friday/5389753002/ | access-date=2025-03-07}}</ref>

===Confrontation with John Chaney===
On February 13, 1994, Temple University basketball coach [[John Chaney (basketball, born 1932)|John Chaney]] threatened to kill Calipari at a post-game news conference, while Calipari was speaking at a podium. Chaney entered the conference mid-speech, called him an "Italian son of a bitch," accusing Calipari of manipulating the referees. When Calipari attempted to respond to the accusations, Chaney yelled, "Shut up, goddammit!" and proceeded to charge the stage, before being stopped by security. While being held back, Chaney shouted, "When I see you, I'm gonna kick your ass!" As security restrained Chaney, he repeatedly yelled, "I'll kill you!" and angrily admitted telling his players to "knock your fucking kids in the mouth." Chaney received a one-game suspension for the incident.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/02/14/sports/college-basketball-chaney-lambastes-umass-s-calipari.html|title=COLLEGE BASKETBALL; Chaney Lambastes UMass's Calipari|last1=Moran|first1=Malcolm|date=February 14, 1994|work=The New York Times|access-date=December 30, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6jUpHClybQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/r6jUpHClybQ| archive-date=December 13, 2021 |url-status=live|title=John Chaney to John Calipari: "I'll Kill You"|date=March 31, 2009|publisher=YouTube|access-date=December 30, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Chaney apologized a few days later and they eventually reconciled and would later become friends, occasionally posing for pictures pretending to fight for fans.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/columnists/mike_kern/John_Chaney_John_Calipari_ESPN_30_for_30_documentary_Temple.html|title=John Chaney is seen and very much heard in documentary about John Calipari| last=Kern| first=Mike|date=April 13, 2017|website=The Philadelphia Inquirer}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Vautour |first=Matt |date=January 29, 2021 |title=John Calipari mourns former rival turned friend John Chaney |url=https://www.masslive.com/umassbasketball/2021/01/john-calipari-mourns-john-chaney-long-after-famous-feud-former-umass-and-temple-coaches-remained-friends.html |access-date=March 9, 2023 |website=masslive |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of college men's basketball coaches with 600 wins]]
* [[List of NCAA Division I Men's Final Four appearances by coach]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== Further reading ==
*{{Cite news |last=Quinn |first=Brendan |date=2024-11-06 |title=Will anything change in John Calipari's final fight? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5901055/2024/11/06/john-calipari-arkansas-basketball/ |access-date=2025-02-28 |work=The Athletic}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.coachcal.com/}}
* [https://arkansasrazorbacks.com/coache/john-calipari/ Arkansas Razorbacks bio]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090726202919/http://www.ukathletics.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/calipari_john00.html Kentucky Wildcats bio]

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