Arkansas State's Bryan Hodgson calls on John Calipari to set in-state series after Kentucky departure
John Calipari is soon to be announced as the head coach at Arkansas. Former Alabama assistant and current Arkansas State head coach Bryan Hodgson wants a shot at the Razorbacks.
Hodgson tweeted at John Calipari Tuesday afternoon, asking for a matchup between Arkansas and Arkansas State to take place next year.
“@UKCoachCalipari let’s get this game on the books. Give the people what they want! Our dates are wide open! We will make the drive! Welcome to The Natural State. #WolvesUp,” Hodgson posted.
Bryan Hodgson just wrapped up his first season as the head coach at Arkansas State after spending the previous four years as an assistant at Alabama.
The Red Wolves finished the 2023-24 season with a 20-17 record, falling to No. 1 seed James Madison in the Sun Belt Tournament.
Overall it was an excellent first season for Bryan Hodgson at Arkansas State. His team won six of its final seven games in the regular season and upset No. 1 seed Appalachian State in the Sun Belt tourney.
Hodgson and the Red Wolves made it to the third round of the College Basketball Invitational before falling High Point to end the year.
It’s interesting that Hodgson not only offered to play Calipari and Arkansas but said that his program has no problem making the trip to Fayetteville and is down to play at any time.
Kentucky AD Mitch Barnhart releases statement confirming John Calipari is leaving for Arkansas
Arkansas has yet to officially announce John Calipari as its next head coach, but the move appears to be done.
Kentucky athletics director Mitch Barnhart released a statement confirming head coach John Calipari’s decision to move on from the program.
“We’re appreciative of John Calipari leading our program for the last 15 years, adding to the legacy of championship success at Kentucky,” Barnhart wrote. “We’re grateful to John for his many contributions to the University, and our state, both on and off the court.
“We are working diligently to hire a proven, highly dedicated coach who embraces the importance of this program to our fans and the state of Kentucky.”
Calipari is reportedly signing a five-year contract with Arkansas, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. The 65-year-old head coach spent 15 seasons at Kentucky, where he tallied a 410-122 record, three Final Four appearances in 2011, 2014 and 2015 and a national title in 2012.
Despite Calipari’s early success during his tenure at UK, he has struggled lately, particularly in the postseason. This past season, Kentucky fell in its opening matchup against Texas A&M in the SEC Tournament. The team’s nightmare scenario only worsened when it lost to No. 14 seed Oakland in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.