John Calipari’s reported hiring at Arkansas snuck into news cycles early Monday morning, shocking fans who woke up to the news. And when things like coaching hires catch fans by surprise, count on them to react with the best memes the internet has to offer.
Kentucky’s underwhelming 2023-2024 season ended with an unexpected March Madness exit at the hands of Jack Gohlke and the Oakland Golden Grizzlies. Since that moment, Kentucky hoops fans have been clamoring for head coach John Calipari to be gone. Still, Calipari’s massive $33 million buyout made that decision really tough for the school to make — until a new deal set them free.
Seemingly unbeknownst to many fans, Calipari had been in talks with the Arkansas Razorbacks and reportedly agreed to a five-year deal to be their next men’s basketball coach. On the surface, leaving under his own terms releases Kentucky from being required to pay his buyout. However, fans quickly realized that there were other immediate implications. Arkansas might have to fork over some serious cash in the process to land Calipari and Kentucky is going to need a special candidate to fill its open role.
Here’s what fans said about the situation, including suggesting that UConn’s Dan Hurley could step in as Kentucky’s head coach:
