Calipari to extend UK contract

Kentucky+head+coach+John+Calipari+celebrates+after+defeating+Michigan+75-72+and+becoming+the+NCAA+Midwest+Regional+Champions+at+the+Elite+8+vs.+Michigan+at+the+Lucas+Oil+Stadium+in+Indianapolis%2C+Ind.%2C+on+Sunday%2C+March+30%2C+2014.+Photo+by+Emily+Wuetcher
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Kentucky head coach John Calipari celebrates after defeating Michigan 75-72 and becoming the NCAA Midwest Regional Champions at the Elite 8 vs. Michigan at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., on Sunday, March 30, 2014. Photo by Emily Wuetcher

May 14, 2015

By Caitlin Schwartz

[email protected]

John Calipari silenced any talk about returning to the NBA after closing in on a deal with UK that will extend his contract by one year and $8 million, according to reporting from the Associated Press.

The deal will last through the 2021-22 season, bringing in a total of $54 million over seven years. Calipari is scheduled to bring in another $1.6 million longevity bonus on July 1. The deal is expected to become official in the next several days.

There are already reports that Calipari is on the list of potential candidates who the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans will consider to hire after the team fired head coach Monty Williams on Tuesday. New Orleans’ roster includes two players who Calipari coached, Anthony Davis of UK and Tyreke Evans of Memphis.