John Calipari officially stepping away from Kentucky

Lexington, KY (WTVQ) — A little after 2 pm on Tuesday afternoon, John Calipari posted a video on X announcing that he was stepping down as Kentucky’s head basketball coach, and from Kentucky as a whole.

“The last few weeks, we have come to realize that this program probably needs to hear another voice,” Calipari said in his video. “That the University as a whole has to have another voice giving guidance about this program. The fans need to hear another voice. We have loved it here, but we think it’s time for us to step away.”

Calipari mentioned that “there had been opportunities that had been presented,” but did not mention the Arkansas head coaching job in specific. He added on that his family is discussing these opportunities, and reiterated that he still has a passion for coaching.

Additionally, Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart put out a statement on X saying “We’re appreciative of John Calipari leading our program for the last 15 years, adding to the legacy of championship success at Kentucky. We’re grateful to John for his many contributions to the University, and our state, both on and off the court.”

Kentucky now begins the search for their next head coach. Barnhart stating that they are “working diligently to hire a proven, highly dedicated coach who embraces the importance of this program to our fans and the state of Kentucky.”