Calipari signs a lifetime contract to end his career in the UK

Kentucky has agreed to extend its contract with head coach John Calipari, who will see him finish his career with the Wildcats, a school official told ESPN. The deal would be a combination of an extension of the head coaching and a paid role of ambassador after his retirement.

"We can confirm that the University of Kentucky has agreed to sign a long-term contract with coach Calipari to finish his career in Kentucky," said a school spokesman.

Calipari also confirmed the news in his radio show.

"It has nothing to do with other things … people call every year," he said. "They introduced it to me and I appreciate it."

"Where else could I want to train?" he added.

Calipari, whose current contract in Kentucky runs until 2024, is the country's highest-paid basketball coach, with a total payout of $ 9.2 million this year, according to the base. USA Today Sports data. He also receives a $ 2.6 million retention bonus in each of the next three July.

Kentucky scored 30-7 this season, winning a hat-trick in the NCAA tournament and moving to Elite Eight before losing to Auburn 77-71 on Sunday.

Calipari competed in four finals with Kentucky in 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015, winning the national championship in 2012. The loss to Auburn marked the third consecutive season, the Wildcats advanced to the second weekend of the tournament. the NCAA, but fell short of the Final Four.

Calipari, 60, has a record of 305-71 in Kentucky and an official lifetime record of 708-209. He led his teams to the NCAA Tournament 20 times in 27 seasons, with four official finals and one title.

Calipari twice led teams in the Final Four, but the victories were canceled by the NCAA. In 2007-08, his Memphis team, who lost to Kansas in the title game, was forced to cancel the 38 victories of the season, including five wins in the tournament's tournament. NCAA because the SAT scores of star player Derrick Rose had been invalidated. The appearance of the Calipari UMass Final Four in 1996 was erased after it was determined that star player Marcus Camby had accepted money from two sports agents.