John Calipari isn't a football coach, but he's on the verge of signing an extension that could change the market for elite football coaches.
According to Seth Davis of The Athletic, Calipari is set to sign an extension that would keep him in Wildcat blue for the next 10 years, with a promise he would remain with the program as a "paid ambassador" following his retirement. It's understood the upcoming extension will be the 60-year-old's final contract amendment.
The extension comes after UCLA offered Calipari a 6-year, $48 million contract to leave Lexington.
Given that the $8 million a year salary is actually below the $9.2 million Cal made at Kentucky in 2019, it seems as if Monday's news is a signal to UCLA's Tier 2 candidates -- Virginia's Tony Bennett, Texas Tech's Chris Beard -- that the Bruins are willing to invest in the right candidate. UCLA paid Steve Alford $2.647 million this year, 33rd most in the nation and fourth in the Pac-12.
Calipari is the highest-paid coach in college athletics in 2018-19. His $9.2 million salary edges out the $8.3 million Nick Saban made last year.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.