John Calipari’s multi-million dollar lifetime contract with Kentucky is another example of how college players are exploited by the NCAA system.
Kentucky coach John Calipari has made a ton of money coaching African-American student-athletes. He’s become a basketball God thanks to generational players such as Anthony Davis and Karl-Anthony Towns. Win or lose, his positon is secure and each year there’s a university lurking, looking to nab the legendary coach.
Kentucky took another upset L in the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament against Auburn this past weekend. Calipari hasn’t won an NCAA title since 2012 and he hasn’t been to a Final Four since 2015. Despite those shortcomings, he is still considered to be the ultimate recruiter. Godfather of the one-and-done blue chipper, Calipari’s influence keeps Kentucky’s talent pool always in the Top 5 of the nation.
Any team in the country, outside of Duke, would part the Red Sea to secure Calipari as head of its hoops program.
For those wondering why @KentuckyMBB would give @UKCoachCalipari a lifetime contract, well.. this might be why.#BBN pic.twitter.com/nR2yPaXNLq
— Michael Eaves (@michaeleaves) April 2, 2019
UCLA was trying to do just that, offering Calipari a contract worth approximately $48 million over six years, according to a source with direct knowledge of the situation.
In response to UCLA’s offer, Kentucky has offered John Calipari a lifetime contract extension.
The 60-year-old Calipari confirmed it on Monday, speaking on his University of Kentucky radio show.
"Where else would I want to coach?"
This is what @UKCoachCalipari said on tonight's @UK_HealthCare John Calipari Show about signing a lifetime contract at Kentucky. pic.twitter.com/ArPHOHpn0e
— UK Sports Network (@UKSportsNetwork) April 1, 2019
Calipari is a master businessman, marketer, and brand ambassador. He has made himself indispensable at a university that was already established far before he assumed the reins in the 2009-10 season. His ability to leverage his recruiting talents with his reputation and value as one of basketball’s brand names is unprecedented.
It’s also an example of the NCAA’s exploitative nature and the way the entire system uses college basketball players to build empires of riches for universities, coaches, TV stations and fund the other sports at the university. The players themselves don’t get much beyond a free education.
John Calipari is very concerned that the NBA might exploit the players he's currently exploiting. https://t.co/mMuvrkkqCC
— Very Tired (@jakewhite77) March 7, 2018
According to the Athletic’s Seth Davis, the contract “would include a 10-year term as coach plus a promise to serve as a paid ambassador for the school after his retirement.” Calipari’s current contract, which runs through 2024, reportedly paid him $9.2 million this year, with several million more available in bonuses.
Doesn’t seem fair that Calipari can parlay his talents and accomplishments into mega-million contracts on the backs of players who appear to be no more than stepping stones to his success. Players who are financially shackled by archaic NCAA rules, lose scholarships and are labeled as criminals for accepting short money from unscrupulous coaches, boosters, and agents.
More like advocating players to stop getting exploit while corporation, NCAA, the school and Coaches are MAKING MILLIONS off the back of those college kids. While the kids can't even make any fund or sponsorship possible, the NCAA selling $200 ticket a game making all of it.
— MAINTAIN THE MYSTERY 🏁🦓🐘🦍 (@DeMarcoSmith) December 20, 2017
With the endorsements, media appearances and sneaker deals, coaches like Calipari become richer and larger than life, while most of the student-athletes that they coach fade to the background as a forgotten footnote in their triumphant journey.
