“There’s one little blip”: Kentucky football HC Mark Stoops weighs in on John Calipari’s decision to join Arkansas

Mark Stoops and John Calipari were the head coaches of the University of Kentucky football and basketball teams, respectively. However, following the past basketball season, Calipari departed from Kentucky to join the Arkansas basketball team as head coach.

A reporter asked Mark Stoops for his thoughts about John Calipari joining Arkansas, and Stoops replied:

"I wish the best for him; you know he and I have had a really good relationship for a long time. You know there's one little blip on there, but you know there's nothing. We are both big boys, we are both friends and we have spoken. I'm sure he'll be successful at Arkansas, and I wish him nothing but the best."

It looks like the coaches' relationship hasn't been affected in the slightest.

John Calipari joined Arkansas after 15 seasons with Kentucky

John Calipari was the coach of the Kentucky Wildcats basketball team for 15 years. Under his tutelage, the Wildcats became one of the premier sides in collegiate basketball.

Calipari led the team to the 2012 NCAA National Championship, four Final Four appearances, and six SEC tournament championships. He won four SEC Head Coach of the Year awards, two Naismith College Coach of the Year awards, and the 2015 AP College Coach of the Year Award.

Calipari built a Hall of Fame résumé at Kentucky and left the Wildcats as one of their most successful head coaches.

What can you expect from Mark Stoops and Kentucky Wildcats football in 2024?

Mark Stoops and the Kentucky Wildcats football team enter the 2024 college football season with loads of expectations. The team finished last season with a 7-5 regular-season record before losing to the Clemson Tigers in the 2023 Taxslayer Gator Bowl game.

Hence, we expect Mark Stoops and the Wildcats to show improvements on last season's efforts. The Wildcats are a storied program, so nothing less than an improved season will be accepted. The team will aim for a better season and potentially a Bowl game victory in 2024.