LEXINGTON (KT) — John Calipari intends to finish his coaching career at the University of Kentucky. Calipari signed a long term contract Thursday that will keep him in Lexington as long as he wants to remain in the Bluegrass.

The term is for 10 years beginning July 1 and is worth $86 million. The base salary is $400,000 from the University and includes $8 million in total compensation during the next two years. The range increases to $8.5 million for four years starting with the 2021-22 season and $9 million per season from 2025-26.

“I want to thank the university, Dr. Eli Capilouto, Mitch Barnhart and DeWayne Peevy for approaching me with the opportunity to finish my career at Kentucky,” Calipari said. “I’ve said from day one that this would be the gold standard and it has been for student-athletes and coaches. As I enter my 11th year, I’m reminded it took me 20 years to get an opportunity to like this. There is no other place I want to be. As I look forward, my mindset is what’s next and how can we be first at it for the young people that we coach.”

The new contract includes incentives for the team’s academic performance rate and will no longer include a retention bonus. Calipari has the choice to step down as coach and become a special assistant to the athletics director or university representative beginning in the sixth year of the contract. The base pay will be $950,000 if he chooses to retire before the contact expires and compensation is strictly from UK Athletics.

“One of the truly unique things about Kentucky men’s basketball is its legacy of head coaches who have made their own lasting mark on this program. John is a perfect illustration of that,” Barnhart said. “He has added a special chapter to the greatest tradition in college basketball and it’s a chapter we want him to continue writing until the end of his coaching career. We are pleased to announce a new contract that will enable him to do exactly that.”

Calipari just concluded his 10th season with the Wildcats and has compiled a 305-71 mark, has led the Wildcats to a national title (2012) and four Final Four appearances in his tenure during 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015. He also has guided the Wildcats to the Elite Eight seven times, complete with eight Sweet Sixteen appearances. Calipari has compiled a 750-211 mark in his coaching career.

Caipari was named to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and his Kentucky teams have won more games during the past 10 years than any team in the nation and his teams have win five regular-season titles in the Southeastern Conference and six league tournament titles. Calipari’s teams have won at least 30 games five times during his tenure as coach of the Wildcats.

NBA DREAMS

During his first decade at Kentucky, 46 players have been drafted in the NBA, a list that includes 26 first-round selections, 13 Top 10 and 19 lottery picks. Top picks include John Wall, Anthony Davis and Karl-Anthony Towns. Derrick Rose was drafted No. 1 while Calipari was coach at Memphis.

CALIPARI FOUNDATION

The Calipari Foundation has raised millions of funds to impact lives in the Bluegrass and across the globe. In 2010, Calipari raised more than $1 million for victims of an earthquake in Haiti. He has given monies to various charities including Samaritan’s Feet, the West Liberty Recovery Fund, 4 Paws for Ability, the Starkey Hearing Foundation, the Urban League of Lexington and the V Foundation.