John Calipari. Sam Upshaw Jr. / Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Kentucky AD Mitch Barnhart makes John Calipari's exit official

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated 4/9/24

For days we have heard that John Calipari's exit from the Kentucky Wildcats basketball program was a done deal, but it just wasn't official yet.

Even while the rumors were swirling, Coach Cal stayed busy and stayed quiet. Nothing official came from the Arkansas side of things, where Calipari is expected to coach next season and beyond.

Nothing had come out of Lexington officially either. Until now.

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.
— Mitch Barnhart (@UKMitchBarnhart) April 9, 2024

We 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.
— Mitch Barnhart (@UKMitchBarnhart) April 9, 2024

Where Kentucky goes from here is anybody's guess, but one thing is clear — the expectations are high in Lexington and patience has run out.

Calipari brought Kentucky six Final Four appearances and a championship, but his Wildcats had without a doubt disappointed in March Madness over the past few seasons.

The most recent example was Kentucky's 80-76 first-round loss to Oakland University just a few weeks ago.

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