Report: Calipari from Memphis to Kentucky

John Calipari reportedly is leaving the Memphis Tigers to become head basketball coach at the the University of Kentucky.

The (Memphis) Commercial Appeal reported Tuesday that Calipari, under contract with the Tigers through the 2012-13 season, will take over the Wildcats from the recently fired Billy Gillispie, who was 40-27 in two years of coaching at Kentucky.

The deal reportedly will make Calipari the highest-paid coach in college basketball. It was estimated the contract will be worth $5 million per season. Memphis, ranked No. 2 this season, reportedly had a similar financial package in place as it tried to persuade Calipari to stay.

Calipari signed a contract extension worth $2.35 million annually following Memphis’s prolific 2007-08 season, when the Tigers compiled an NCAA Division I-record 38 wins, eventually falling to Kansas in overtime in the NCAA Tournament championship game.

This season, the Tigers went 33-4 and made it to the Sweet 16.

During Calipari’s nine seasons at Memphis, the Tigers went 252-69.