Boosters Make Last Ditch Effort to Keep Cal

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - According to sources and published reports , a group of boosters will meet with head coach John Calipari in a last ditch effort to try and persuade him to stay at the University of Memphis. However, continuous reports Monday have indicated that it's almost a certainty that after nine years in Memphis Calipari will be taking the head coaching job at the University of Kentucky.

Sources have told FOX13 News that Calipari held meetings Sunday, at an undisclosed location, with the University of Kentucky about its recently open coaching position. However, according to an AP story, Kentucky officials would neither confirm nor deny a report by ESPN that they had met with Calipari and were ready to offer him the job.

FOX13 Sports learned that that Memphis has received permission to talk to University of Missouri head coach Mike Anderson.

Jimmy Sexton, Anderson's agent, is in Atlanta visiting with Damon Evans, Georgia's athletic director. Sexton told FOX13 Sports that he had no comment.

The rumors around Cal's possible departure are almost too numerous to count. However, FOX13's Les Smith reported that a source said Cal would meet with a group of Memphis businessmen and suggest that the university hire his former assistant and current University of Texas El Paso coach Tony Barbee.

Additionally, sources have said that the entire Memphis coaching staff would follow Cal to Rupp Arena along with current Tigers Wesley Witherspoon and NCAA tournament hero Roburt Sallie. But Witherspoon told FOX13 that he didn't think Cal was going anywhere.

After firing coach Billy Gillespie Friday, the University of Kentucky said Calipari was on a short list of possible replacements.

Sources close to the situation expect the offer to be a multi-year, multi-million dollar offer, so Calipari will need to decide whether he wants to stay with a Memphis team that he built to a year in year out national title contender or to a Kentucky team rich with tradition.
Calipari is expected to speak with Memphis officials Monday in anticipation of an offer.

FOX13's Greg Gaston confirmed that Calipari met earlier Monday with his players at the University of Memphis behind closed doors and hinted at his departure.

According to the University of Memphis, the University of Kentucky has been granted permission to speak with Coach Cal.

CBSSports.com said that according to a source, "Barring a breakdown in negotiations, the Kentucky job is John Calipari's to take, and the Memphis coach could verbally accept an informal offer in the next 24 hours..."

Coach Cal has a 252-69 in nine seasons at Memphis and 445-140 overall and was named the Sports Illustrated coach of the year before the start of the NCAA tournament. He also led Memphis to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament this year after a 27-game winning streak.

Statement Received from Memphis Athletic Director:

University of Memphis Athletic Director R.C. Johnson said today that he has been contacted by Kentucky AD Mitch Barnhardt and that he has granted Kentucky permission to confer with Tiger head basketball coach John Calipari as to the Wildcats head coaching position.

"We have given Kentucky permission to talk with John about their position," Johnson stated. "However, I will tell you that we are elated with the job John has done as our head coach and we will do everything in our power to retain his services at Memphis."

Johnson indicated that he will have no further statement on the matter until there is something concrete to report.