Predictions for the next coach of Kentucky include Billy Donovan and Dan Hurley, who are among the favorites to replace Calipari.
Following John Calipari’s departure from Kentucky to take the head coaching position at Arkansas, the most recent odds for the next Kentucky coach are favoring Billy Donovan of the Chicago Bulls and Dan Hurley of UConn as the top contenders.
Editor’s note: Kentucky is said to be pursuing BYU head coach Mark Pope for the same position, with a deal anticipated to be finalized soon.
Despite being eliminated in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Kentucky remained in the spotlight during the final hours of March Madness. The search for their next head coach has become the most talked-about story in college basketball.
John Calipari, who led Kentucky to a national title during his 15-year tenure as head coach, revealed on social media on Tuesday that he will be resigning from his position. This news preceded the official announcement from Arkansas that Calipari had signed a five-year contract worth $7 million annually to become their new head coach, which was made public on Wednesday.
Earlier this week, Baylor’s Scott Drew was considered the frontrunner (+100) for the top coaching position in college basketball due to his reputation and connection with Kentucky’s athletic director Mitch Barnhart. However, after announcing his decision to stay at Baylor on Thursday, the search for the next coach at Kentucky is now wide open.
Take a peek at the most recent betting odds for the next head coach of Kentucky, featuring the top contenders and some dark horse candidates to keep an eye on.
In our 2025 March Madness odds and predictions, we singled out Kentucky and Arkansas as top picks for the upcoming season’s title contenders.
Kentucky next coach odds
| Coach | Odds | Implied probability |
|---|---|---|
| Billy Donovan | +150 | 40.00% |
| Dan Hurley | +175 | 36.36% |
| Mark Pope | +1200 | 7.69% |
| Richard Pitino | +1800 | 5.26% |
| Chris Beard | +2200 | 4.35% |
| Rick Pitino | +2500 | 3.85% |
| Sean Miller | +2500 | 3.85% |
| Nate Oats | +2500 | 3.85% |
| Kelvin Sampson | +2500 | 3.85% |
| Shaka Smart | +2500 | 3.85% |
Other candidates:
- Jamie Dixon (+2500)
- Scott Padgett (+2500)
- Jay Wright (+3000)
- Bruce Pearl (+3000)
- T.J. Otzelberger (+3000)
- Will Wade (+3000)
- Anfernee Hardaway (+3000)
- Darvin Ham (+5000)
- Frank Vogel (+5000)
Top candidates for the next Kentucky coach position
Billy Donovan (+150)
When news spread that Calipari was expected to go to Arkansas, Donovan’s name was quickly brought up as a potential coach to fill the vacancy. With Drew declining the job, the current Chicago Bulls coach is now the front-runner for the position.
Donovan started as an assistant coach at Kentucky from 1989-94 before becoming the head coach at Florida for 20 years. During his time at Florida from 1996-2015, he led the team to consecutive championships in 2006 and 2007. Despite his successful tenure at Florida, Donovan made the decision to leave college coaching behind and transition to the NBA, where he has been coaching for the past nine years.
If Donovan is interested in the Kentucky job, he is likely one of the top choices for Barnhart. The real question is whether coaching at the premier college program is more desirable than one of the 30 head coaching positions in the NBA.
Dan Hurley (+175)
After Drew declined on Thursday, early reports indicate that Hurley has emerged as the primary target for Kentucky. This is despite the fact that the two-time national championship-winning coach from UConn has publicly denied any intention of leaving.
Therefore, it may be wise to refrain from placing bets on Hurley due to the low odds. However, it is entertaining to consider whether Hurley, who expressed his desire to create a dynasty with the Huskies, would feel motivated to bring UConn its first title in over a decade after successfully revitalizing the program in the past six seasons.
So far, the answer appears to be a strong “no,” but history has shown that anything is possible when money and power come into play.
Speculation mounts on potential candidates for next Kentucky coach
Mark Pope (+1200)
Earlier in the week, we pointed out Pope when it seemed like Drew was a sure bet to be the next head coach. However, now that the Baylor coach is no longer in consideration, the odds for Pope have surprisingly increased even more.
Pope, one of the few coaches on this list who has previous ties to Kentucky, played a pivotal role in the 1996 Wildcats team, widely considered the best in program history. Following his time with Kentucky, Pope went on to have a successful coaching career at Utah Valley from 2015 to 2019, and then at BYU from 2019 to 2024.
Barnhart announced on Tuesday that the school is seeking a coach who is experienced, committed, and values the program’s significance to fans and the state of Kentucky. While Pope meets these criteria, his previous lack of success at a major program may hinder his chances of being considered for the position.
Rick Pitino (+2500)
Is it possible that this could happen? Despite being one of the most successful coaches in the history of Kentucky basketball, Pitino’s numerous scandals and recent decision to join St. John’s indicate that the 72-year-old coach is unlikely to return to his former position anytime soon.
While the initial excitement for this reunion may have diminished, the idea of Kentucky reviving its championship-winning culture is still appealing. Especially with Pitino reminiscing about his time in Lexington whenever he can. Despite the long odds, it wouldn’t be a bad bet to make.
Bruce Pearl (+3000)
When it comes to coaches with high profiles and questionable off-court records, Pearl could be a risky but potentially rewarding choice for Kentucky if they aim to return to championship contention soon.
While Pearl hasn’t always had a strong relationship with the NCAA, his track record as a successful program-builder at Tennessee and Auburn speaks for itself. With his experience in the SEC and his impressive coaching abilities, he is well-equipped to take on a major coaching job in college basketball, should the opportunity arise.
Kentucky head coach FAQs
Who is the frontrunner to become Kentucky’s next coach?
Billy Donovan, the current Chicago Bulls coach, is the frontrunner with +150 odds to become the next head coach for the Kentucky Wildcats. These odds suggest a 40% likelihood of Donovan taking on the role, despite the unpredictable nature of the coaching search so far. Donovan, who started his career as an assistant at Kentucky from 1989-94, has a strong connection to the program but the actual likelihood of him being hired may be lower than the odds indicate.
When was the last time Kentucky won a national title?
John Calipari guided the Kentucky Wildcats to a national championship in 2012, with eventual No. 1 draft pick Anthony Davis as a key player. This championship was the only one achieved during Calipari’s tenure of 15 years at Kentucky.
When is Kentucky going to appoint its next head coach?
Given the magnitude of the job, it is uncertain when Kentucky will choose its next head coach. However, due to the influence of the transfer portal on the college basketball offseason, it is likely that the hiring will happen sooner rather than later.
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