Who is John Tyson, the Arkansas basketball booster reportedly behind John Calipari hire?
When rumors first began circulating Sunday that John Calipari was considering leaving Kentucky basketball for Arkansas, the marriage seemed like an awkward fit.
But the presence of at least one influential Arkansas booster in the discussions suddenly made the connection seem much more plausible.
John Tyson, the grandson of the founder of Arkansas-based Tyson Foods and current chairman of the board for the company, is a longtime friend of Calipari and a major Arkansas athletics supporter. Multiple reports have pointed to Tyson as the driver behind Arkansas’ pursuit of Calipari after the Razorbacks’ open job was reportedly turned down by multiple candidates.
In 2015, Calipari posted a picture to Instagram of himself with Tyson and four other men and the caption, “Some old friends having dinner.” In 2022, Calipari tweeted a picture of himself eating at Herman’s Ribhouse in Fayetteville, Arkansas, noting he was eating there with “longtime friend John Tyson.” During that visit to Herman’s Ribhouse, Calipari was greeted by Arkansas fans “calling the hogs.”
Tyson is actually a graduate of Southern Methodist University, but his father, Don Tyson, attended the University of Arkansas. Forbes estimates Tyson’s net worth at $2.8 billion.
According to his Tyson Foods bio, Tyson has served as the company’s chairman since 1998 and director since 1984. Tyson has worked in the company since he was a teenager.
With Nick Wright of Herman’s Ribhouse. It’s my annual stop when in Fayetteville. Had dinner tonight with my longtime friend John Tyson. If you are anywhere close, it’s worth the drive!!! pic.twitter.com/Qd5Z8fX44i
— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) February 26, 2022
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