The contract says that if Calipari is fired without cause (and just losing a bunch of games does not qualify as cause in this case), he’s owed 75 percent of the remaining compensation. He’s set to make $8.5 million the next two seasons and $9 million the last four years of a deal that runs through the 2028-29 season. So if you fire Calipari after this season, you owe him three-fourths of $53 million, which is a cool $39.75 million.
Now, about that “Special Assistant to the AD/University Representative Option” in the contract, which says he can step down at any time after next season and take a program ambassador role for $950,000 a year. Could he be convinced to slide into that role? Here’s what he told me in October:
“Now I want to know any normal human being that would give up a $9 million job for a $1 million job? Who would do that? I’m not doing it, OK? If something happens with my health (he’ll soon be 64) or I don’t feel like I’m up to it, that is like an insurance thing for me. That’s all it was. Now, if they want me to stop and pay me $9 million for the next five years, I’d probably consider it. But I would say, ‘What am I gonna do? I gotta do something.’”
So no, Ambassador Cal ain’t happening.
Now, about that “Special Assistant to the AD/University Representative Option” in the contract, which says he can step down at any time after next season and take a program ambassador role for $950,000 a year. Could he be convinced to slide into that role? Here’s what he told me in October:
“Now I want to know any normal human being that would give up a $9 million job for a $1 million job? Who would do that? I’m not doing it, OK? If something happens with my health (he’ll soon be 64) or I don’t feel like I’m up to it, that is like an insurance thing for me. That’s all it was. Now, if they want me to stop and pay me $9 million for the next five years, I’d probably consider it. But I would say, ‘What am I gonna do? I gotta do something.’”
So no, Ambassador Cal ain’t happening.