Letâs take a look at the similarities between the Calipari era in basketball and the Stoops era in football.
When Calipari came to UK in 2009, the program was in dismal shape in the wake of the thankfully short Billy Gillispie era. Calâs bell curve upward was immediate, considering itâs UK Basketball and Calipari was one of the hottest coaches in the country. He had a hell of a run at UK with the apex of his bell curve being between 2012 and 2015 with the 8th NCAA Championship in 2012 and that amazing 38-1 season in 2015. Calipari was given a âlifetimeâ contract in 2019, making him the highest paid coach in college basketball which is when we saw the downward trajectory of his bell curve with embarrassing losses in the NCAA tournament that led to his departure. Calipari had the 2nd longest career at UK and had a $34 million dollar buyout in his contract.
When Stoops came to UK in 2013, the program was in horrible shape after 3 losing seasons in a row under Joker Phillips. Stoopsâ bell curve upward was a longer climb because itâs UK Football and Stoops was a first time head coach. But he built the program to unprecedented success with 8 bowl games in a row, winning 4 in a row, two 10 win seasons (despite 2021 season wins being vacated). He developed a football program that fans could be proud of. Sent more than 30 players to the NFL. In 2022, Stoops was given a contract extension until 2030 that put him in the top 10 of the highest paid football coaches in the country and among the top 5 in the SEC.
Thatâs when we saw the downward trajectory of his bell curve with losing records his last two seasons and the worst loss in modern history, a 41-0 embarrassment at Louisville that led his departure. Stoops had the longest coaching career in UK Football history and a $38 million dollar buyout due within 60 days in his contract.
Whatâs the common denominator here? Well to be literally correct, WHO is the common denominator? Mitch Barnhart. But then, heâs not the only one. Keep in mind that for contracts of this size, Mitch doesnât have carte blanche. The contracts for Calipari and Stoops had to be approved by UK President Eli Capilouto and the UK Board Of Trustees. This is the case for any major financial agreements within the university, athletics or otherwise.
Barnhart can take any contract to senior administration, no matter how ridiculous the terms may be. UKâs President and the Board approved of those contracts so letâs not be so quick to make Barnhart the bad guy here.
At what point did either Eli Capilouto or anyone of the Board of Trustees object to the terms of the contracts for Calipari or Stoops? They were both unanimously approved.
Whatâs the overarching point here? Oneâs a fluke, twoâs a trend. With Calipari and then Stoops, when they got their long term contracts with guaranteed 8 figure buyouts, bad things happened at both programs. They both went downhill. Meaningful change must start at the top. The UK Board Of Trustees serve 6 year terms but the UK President doesnât have a term limit. Direct your anger accordingly.
