Report: John Calipari Will Have ‘At Least’ $5M in Annual NIL Funds to Use at Arkansas

Arkansas’ investment in the men’s basketball program will reportedly extend well beyond a contract for incoming coach John Calipari.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel and Jeff Borzello reported Sunday night the Razorbacks are finalizing a five-year deal with Calipari to seal his exit from Kentucky, and his salary is expected to be a little lower than the $8.5 million he earns annually with the Wildcats.

While going from Kentucky to Arkansas is a step down in terms of prestige, On3’s Pete Nakos reported that NIL “cannot be overlooked in Calipari’s decision-making.”

“Having dollars to spend in the transfer portal and recruiting won’t be a problem in Fayetteville,” Nakos wrote. “A source told On3 on Sunday night that Calipari will have ‘at least’ $5 million annually in NIL funds to disperse. The same source estimated the budget will be in the $6 million ballpark.”