LEXINGTON, Ky. — John Calipari agreed Tuesday to leave Memphis and the dominant program he built there to take on the challenge — and riches — of returning Kentucky to college basketball glory.
Calipari will receive an eight- year, $31.65 million deal plus incentives, according to the university, making him the highest-paid coach in college basketball. The school also will pay Memphis a $200,000 buyout.
Calipari, 50, has a career record of 445-140 in 17 seasons. He chose to leave Memphis after nine seasons of success, including a record of 137-14 over the past four years.
Kentucky fired Billy Gillispie last Friday after two seasons.
• Mike Anderson has agreed to a new, seven-year contract and will remain Missouri’s coach. The university said financial details of the new deal will be announced later. Anderson previously earned a base annual salary of $850,000.
• A Virginia Commonwealth University official said the school has picked Florida assistant coach Shaka Smart to replace Anthony Grant as its basketball coach.
• Purdue center JaJuan Johnson and forward Robbie Hummel will return for their junior seasons.
Garnett to sit four games
WALTHAM, Mass. — Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett will miss at least the next four games with a sore right knee.
• Guard Shaun Livingston, who has had an extended recovery since tearing three ligaments in his left knee and dislocating his kneecap after a layup attempt in February 2007 with the Los Angeles Clippers, signed a multiyear contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
• Stephen Jackson has undergone surgery to remove multiple bone spurs from his left foot, which will keep the Golden State Warriors swingman out for the rest of the season.
Jitloff repeats in giant slalom
GIRDWOOD, Alaska — Tim Jitloff of Truckee, Calif., repeated as giant slalom champion at the U.S. Alpine Ski Championships, finishing first in both runs for a combined time of 2 minutes, 17.73 seconds.
Tommy Ford of Bend, Ore., was second (2:18.48) and Warner Nickerson of Gilford, N.H., was third (2:18.67), nearly a half-second ahead of Longmont’s Will Gregorak (2:19.15). Ford and Gregory also finished 1-2 in the junior division.
Footnotes.
Former quarterback Michael Vick has agreed to pay the Atlanta Falcons at least $6.5 million as part of his bankruptcy case.
• A gun possession case against Plaxico Burress was adjourned until June unless the New York Giants receiver reaches a plea agreement with prosecutors to resolve the matter sooner.
• Minnesota Duluth’s women’s hockey program will have to vacate part of its 2007-08 regular season and relinquish its regular-season WCHA conference title for using an ineligible player.
• The Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto is changing its rules in a move that signals it is ready to admit its first female player starting in 2010.
• The United States faces Trinidad and Tobago tonight in a World Cup qualifier in Nashville, Tenn.
The Associated Press
