Current Connecticut coach Dan Hurley is the top option to replace John Calipari at Kentucky for most fans. He is also the apple of Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart’s eye if reports are correct.
There are conflicting reports out there, but some are that Kentucky has made an offer to Hurley for $11 million per year for five years. That would make the two-time defending national championship coach the highest paid in the college basketball world.
John Calipari spent 15 years with the Wildcats, making several trips to the Final Four and winning a championship. However, in the last five seasons, the Cats struggled in March, winning just one NCAA Tournament game, and were on the receiving end of a couple of big upsets.
With Coach Cal off to Arkansas, Kentucky and Barnhart are leading their first coaching search in quite a while. A number of candidates have had their names mentioned, but Dan Hurley would be the homerun pick.
Hurley took over the Connecticut Huskies program in 2018. He got them back into the NCAA Tournament in 2021, and two years later they won a national championship. Then, they repeated as champs this year.
The hire of Hurley would be a big one for Kentucky, but an expensive one. However, it would likely pay dividends. He has proven he is an elite coach, and Wildcats fans would be happy about it.
For now, there are only reports and no evidence, so fans will continue to wait for news on all of the candidates, but Hurley most of all.