LEXINGTON, Ky. — John Calipari agreed yesterday to leave Memphis and the dominant program he built and take on the challenge — and riches — of returning Kentucky to college basketball glory.

Calipari will receive an eight-year, $31.65 million deal plus incentives, according to the university, making him the highest-paid coach in college basketball. The school also will pay Memphis a $200,000 buyout.

The 50-year-old Calipari has a career record of 445-140 in 17 seasons. He chose to leave Memphis after nine seasons of success, including a record of 137-14 over the past four years.

He 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 and most scrutinized jobs. Kentucky fired Billy Gillispie last Friday after two disappointing seasons.

The Commercial Appeal of Memphis, Tenn., 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. 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.

Calipari's deal would eclipse the $3.5 million average salary of Florida's Billy Donovan and dwarf those of Calipari's predecessors Rick Pitino, Tubby Smith and Gillispie.

The Wildcats went 22-14 this year, missing the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1991 despite having two of the SEC's best players in guard Jodie Meeks and forward Patrick Patterson.

Patterson said after the season he'd likely return for his junior year, while Meeks — a second-team All-American — was going to take his time on a decision.

NOTES

Arizona: Russ Pennell knows he will most likely be coaching college basketball next year, just not at Arizona. The surreal one-season ride of the former assistant coach and ex-radio broadcaster who was thrust into the head coaching role at one of the country's premiere basketball programs in October is winding down after last week's 103-64 loss in the Sweet 16 to Louisville. "I asked (athletic director Jim Livengood) who the next coach was going to be and he wouldn't tell me," Pennell said yesterday after an exit interview with Livengood.

Missouri: Men's basketball coach Mike Anderson passed up a sizable raise offered by Georgia to instead sign a new seven-year contract with the school he helped lead to the brink of the Final Four. The university said yesterday financial details of the new deal will be announced later. Anderson, who was hired in 2006, previously earned a base annual salary of $850,000.

Purdue: Center JaJuan Johnson, who averaged 13.4 points and 5.6 rebounds, has decided to return for his junior season after considering a jump to the NBA. "Yes, I am definitely coming back next year," wrote Johnson in an e-mail to The Associated Press yesterday. "Right now, I do not feel that I am quite ready for the next level."

Virginia: The University of Virginia says new men's basketball coach Tony Bennett has agreed to "a memorandum of understanding" that will be pay him $1.7 million annually for five years. Virginia also said that Bennett will receive a $500,000 signing bonus and another $500,000 if he stays five years.

Virginia Commonwealth: A VCU official says the school has picked Florida assistant coach Shaka Smart to be its new men's basketball coach. The official familiar with the decision told The Associated Press that Smart has not yet signed a contract, but an announcement is planned for today. The official spoke on condition of anonymity.