John Calipari outlined a plan Friday to reverse the chaos in college athletics and preserve the student-athlete model amid sweeping changes brought on by NIL policies.
In an opinion piece for the Washington Post, Calipari said changes since 2021 have created confusion, weakened educational focus and blurred the line between amateur and professional sports. Programs no longer have consistent rules, and athletes often transfer frequently or stay in school far longer than intended, he said.
The Arkansas men’s basketball coach is also the former president of the National Association of Basketball Coaches. His opinion carries weight and he stressed that student-athletes deserve opportunities to benefit from their talent while still earning a degree. But he argued that current NCAA structures fail to protect scholarship rights, enforce stable transfer rules or ensure fair competition among players of similar ages.
"We must fix this so it maximizes the earning potential of young athletes and underscores the impact education has on their lives," he wrote. "Coaches have been transformational for families for years, but we have recently become too transactional."
Calipari urged reforms in three areas: One-time transfer without penalty, clear eligibility guidelines and rewarding athletes for staying at their school. While he has good intentions, the current system isn't evolving to go backwards. Wanting to protect athletes’ rights in a free-market system without undermining education is understandable.
But the era that existed when Calipari was inspiring one-and-dones to the NBA is no more. He suggested that if Congress granted the NCAA antitrust protection and clearer regulatory authority, the association could implement meaningful reforms.
However, Calipari acknowledged that legislative solutions are unlikely and proposed that athletic conferences form an alliance to govern the most pressing issues. This alliance could negotiate uniform contracts, establish certified agents and set eligibility standards that prevent adults with professional experience from dominating collegiate competition.
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If conferences cannot lead, Calipari advocated for sport-specific governing bodies to oversee tailored rules, noting that what works for one sport may not suit another.
Calipari closed by calling for urgent dialogue among stakeholders to protect athletes’ educational experiences and the long-term health of college sports.
I don’t have all the answers, but we are at a critical moment that doesn’t allow us to sit on our hands," he added. "Let’s start a dialogue. Let’s move fast. Let’s include all stakeholders in the conversation. Let’s do it for our young people and the sports that have changed so many lives."
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