In an article describing the long UCLA Basketball job search that eventually ended with the hiring of Mick Cronin, the LA Times also discussed John Calipari’s negotiations to take over the job.
There is also talk about Calipari’s interest being genuine in the UCLA job.
Among them were a contract that would pay Calipari $45 million over six seasons, a $1.7-million pool for assistant coaches, eight new staff positions, private planes for the use of the team and its coaches, and a monthly catered meal for Calipari’s staff and players. Negotiations progressed to the point that Rebholz reached out to donors, seeking money to help cover all the new expenditures that Calipari’s hiring would entail, according to people familiar with Calipari’s requests.
Contrary to the widespread narrative that the Bruins had been played by a master tactician, the search committee felt that Calipari’s interest had been genuine, said a person close to the committee.
Read “The back story on UCLA’s long, strange search for a basketball coach” by clicking here.
Of course, all of this is moot because Calipari signed a lifetime contract with Kentucky.
Plus, you can’t blame a guy for listening.
