Despite the 2024 Paris Olympic buzz, John Calipari stays committed to Arkansas; shows no interest in Team USA coaching job

Arkansas Razorbacks coach John Calipari would never consider petitioning to coach Team USA. The buzz surrounding the Paris Olympics didn't seem to attract Calipari much, as he added that he was satisfied with the 'big job' he had at hand in Arkansas.

Calipari coached the Kentucky Wildcats for 15 years before he moved to the Arkansas Razorbacks this year. The Arkansas head coach told On3 that the coaching staff of Team USA was 'terrific' but he valued his own job.

“I would never petition, that’s not how this goes and I’m so happy for the staff. Mark Few, by the way, is a really good friend. Hopefully we’re doing something with them in the future. But he’s a really good friend and Steve and I know all those guys," Calipari said.

"They’re terrific people, and they deserve to be there. And no, I’m good. I’m good. I got a big job here. Get this thing right and have people look at us and say what are they doing? How do we do that? Let people look at this and say, ‘Well, you know, here it goes again.’'

Steve Kerr of Golden State Warriors currently serves as the head coach of Team USA. Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat, Ty Lue of the Los Angeles Clippers, and Mark Few of Gonzaga are part of the coaching staff of Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Calipari has vast experience as a coach at the college and professional levels. He coached the United States men's national under-19 basketball team in 2017.

Calipari's achievements as a college basketball coach include winning one NCAA championship and six NCAA regional championships. He has a career record of 855-263 in college.

John Calipari is not a 'magician' but reveals a few things about his 'magic wand'

A lot of expectations surround Calipari since he took over Razorbacks this year. Calipari shared that he was not a magician but revealed how he was preparing the Razorbacks as a formidable unit.

“But, I’m going to a place and I’m saying ‘Let’s get this going at the highest level," he said. "And it’s going to take time. I’m saying it again: I’m not a magician. It’s getting a bunch of players to understand how bad they need each other. And if we all do this together and we win, everybody eats, and you all eat. You don’t have to just be about yourself.” [via On3].

Calipari was inducted as the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coach in 2015. He is the second-highest-paid coach in inter-collegiate basketball after Bill Self.