Arkansas Given Permission to Talk to Calipari
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WHBQ FOX13 myfoxmemphis.com) -- University of Memphis officials have said that they have given the University of Arkansas permission to speak to Tiger head basketball coach John Calipari.
Arkansas fired Stan Heath last week after five seasons as the Razorbacks' basketball coach.
Heath's team made the NCAA tournament this year, but they lost in the first round to Southern California in the first round.
Arkansas made the NCAA tournament thanks to a late-season run, but that was not enough to save Heath's job. The Razorbacks lost 77-60 to Southern California in the first round.
Calipari just finished his seventh season in Memphis and led his team to back to back Elite Eight appearances the past two years. The Tigers also finished 33-4 the past two seasons.
Earlier this week, the University of Memphis and Calipari announced that they had reached an agreement in principal to a contract extension.
"I am pleased to announce that I have met with John and the two of us have reached an agreement that will keep him on as the Tigers' basketball coach for years to come,"R.C. Johnson, the school's athletoic director said in a written statement. "This is my way to say thank you to John for what he has been able to accomplish at the University of Memphis over the past seven years."