Calipari 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, most scrutinized, and most lucrative jobs. Kentucky fired Billy Gillispie Friday after two disappointing seasons.
The Commercial Appeal of Memphis first reported the hiring.
Tigers walk-on Preston Laird said Calipari met with the team yesterday afternoon, first as a group and then with individual players, including Laird. The freshman guard described the meeting as very quiet, "Nobody really said anything."
"He started off by telling us it was the hardest day of his life," Laird said.
But the guard said Calipari wasn't very specific.
"He can't say that he's taking it, but he said he was probably going to sign the contract," Laird told a reporter.
Kentucky spokesman DeWayne Peevy would not confirm a deal had been reached.
"I'm waiting on my boss to tell me it's a done deal," he said.
Memphis spokesman Bob Winn confirmed athletic director R.C. Johnson had spoken with Calipari. Asked if Calipari had told Johnson he was taking the Kentucky job, Winn declined to comment.
Memphis has scheduled a news conference for noon today, when Johnson will discuss the future of the basketball program.
BU continues search
The search for a men's basketball coach for Boston University will move to the Final Four in Detroit, where athletic director Mike Lynch hopes to wrap up the interview process and name a coach in the next few days. Tennessee associate head coach Tony Jones appears to be the leading candidate after Cornell coach Steve Donahue told BU officials he was not interested in leaving the school.
Jones, who interviewed for the job last week, said he had not heard from BU officials. "I think it's a great job," said Jones. "Great city, great pro town, and a great college town."
Rob Burke, an associate coach at Georgetown, was in Boston last week for an interview, said a source at Georgetown. BU officials also met with Villanova assistant Pat Chambers last weekend.
