Calipari to take job at Kentucky

John Calipari agreed Tuesday to leave Memphis and the dominant program he built and 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.

The 50-year-old Calipari has a 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 last four years.

He spent the day considering the Wildcats’ lucrative offer and calling former Kentucky coaches, including Joe B. Hall.

Hall said the informal chat centered on what it takes to survive one of college basketball’s most prestigious and most scrutinized jobs. Kentucky fired Billy Gillispie on Friday after two disappointing seasons.

Memphis guard Preston Laird said Calipari met with the team Tuesday afternoon, first as a group and then with individual players. The freshman guard described the meeting as very quiet.

“Nobody really said anything,” Laird said.

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Anderson stays

Missouri men’s Coach Mike Anderson passed up a sizable raise offered by Georgia to instead sign a new seven-year contract with the school he helped lead to the brink of the Final Four.

The announcement caps a whirlwind couple of days for the university and for Anderson, who had also been linked to the coaching vacancy at Memphis created by Calipari’s move to Kentucky.

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VCU hires Smart

A Virginia Commonwealth official says the school has picked Florida assistant coach Shaka Smart to be its new coach.

The official familiar with the decision said that Smart has not yet signed a contract, but an announcement is planned for Thursday.

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Big deal for Bennett

Virginia says new Coach Tony Bennett has agreed to “a memorandum of understanding” that will pay him $1.7 million annually for five years.

Virginia also said that Bennett would receive a $500,000 signing bonus and another $500,000 if he stays five years.

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Etc.

UCLA guard Darren Collison won the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award, presented to the nation’s outstanding senior 6 feet and under who has excelled athletically and academically. . . . Purdue center JaJuan Johnson will return for his junior season after contemplating a move to the NBA.