Kentucky coach John Calipari has not made any direct contact with the New York Knicks, but ESPN.com reported Thursday that Calipari has used intermediaries to express his interest in the team’s vacancy in their president of operations job.
The Knicks parted ways with Phil Jackson on Wednesday, and they do not have interest in Calipari at this point, ESPN.com added, according to its sources.
Calipari, 58, signed a two-year extension with Kentucky in March, a deal that takes him through the 2023-24 season. He is scheduled to make $7.75 million next season and $8 million per season in the years after that.
Calipari would be paid $5 million for each year if Kentucky terminates his contract.
The Cleveland Cavaliers reportedly offered Calipari a 10-year contract worth nearly $80 million to be coach and team president in 2014.
The Cavs ended up hiring David Blatt as coach, and Calipari signed a new seven-year deal worth $52.5 million with Kentucky.
Calipari coached the then New Jersey Nets for parts of three seasons but had no winning seasons and had a 72-112 record.