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Ex-UK coach John Calipari’s house is for sale. Here is what’s included & for how much

In our Inside Look stories, Herald-Leader journalists take you inside places around Lexington and Kentucky that you maybe haven't seen before. Read more. Story idea? hlcityregion@herald-leader.com.

Looking for a home that comes with its own special meaning to the Big Blue Nation?

The Lexington house where former University of Kentucky men’s basketball coach John Calipari and his wife, Ellen, have lived in since 2009 has hit the market and is for sale.

Asking price for a stop on the Wildcat trail? Just a hair under $4 million, listed at $3.99 million.

“This is an opportunity to own a piece of Kentucky history!” according to the listing with Melinda Drake of The Brokerage.

The Calipari house at 1732 Richmond Rd. has been listed for $3.99 million.
The Calipari house at 1732 Richmond Rd. has been listed for $3.99 million.

Drake said that the house had appraised for much more but that Coach Cal decided to list for under the appraisal price.

“He said they have loved it here and hope a family will love it as much as they have, and love the amenities of it,” Drake said. “That’s more important to him ...That’s his heart.”

Many fans will be familiar with the interior from years of seeing Wildcat players and Coach Cal watching to see if they made the annual NCAA tournament.

The Kentucky basketball team gathered at coach John Calipari’s house to watch the NCAA draw on Sunday March 15, 2015 in Lexington, Ky. Photo by Mark Cornelison | Staff
The Kentucky basketball team gathered at coach John Calipari’s house to watch the NCAA draw on Sunday March 15, 2015 in Lexington, Ky. Photo by Mark Cornelison | Staff
Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari sits with his team and staff waiting to find out their ranking and opponent for the NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament at John Calipari’s house in Lexington, Ky., Sunday, March 12, 2023.
Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari sits with his team and staff waiting to find out their ranking and opponent for the NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament at John Calipari’s house in Lexington, Ky., Sunday, March 12, 2023.

But with the Caliparis moving to Arkansas, they are selling their house and 1732 Richmond Rd. is now on the market.

At least one prominent Kentucky fan, Lexington Sporting Club soccer team founder Bill Shively, has looked at the house. His office confirmed to the Herald-Leader that the Shivelys toured the property recently but did not put in an offer. The owners of Dixiana Farm in Lexington also has made major donations to UK, including for the Shively Training Facility and Shively Sports Center and the Bill and Donna Shively Endowed Pediatric Research Professorship in the College of Medicine.

The Lexington house where University of Kentucky men’s basketball coach John Calipari and his wife, Ellen, have lived since 2009 is listed for sale with The Brokerage for $3.99 million.
The Lexington house where University of Kentucky men’s basketball coach John Calipari and his wife, Ellen, have lived since 2009 is listed for sale with The Brokerage for $3.99 million.

Amenities inside Coach Cal’s Lexington house

The Fayette County PVA database says the Calipari’s bought the two parcels in 2009 for a combined $2.3 million. The PVA in 2024 valued both parcels at $2,520,400.

There are 78 photos to look at on the online listing, which says the five-bedroom, seven-bathroom house is 9,612 square feet (or possibly seven bathrooms and two half-baths, according to the PVA site.)

The great room of the Calipari house, 1732 Richmond Road, where viewers have watched many NCAA tournament selection night.
The great room of the Calipari house, 1732 Richmond Road, where viewers have watched many NCAA tournament selection night.

The 1.2-acre property includes a gated driveway, grand foyer with staircase, formal living and dining rooms as well as an open concept great room with a two-story stone fireplace and chef’s kitchen with a large island, possibly where Mrs. Calipari made her famous fudge brownies for the team.

Primary bedroom is on the first floor, with dual bathrooms and closets. Upstairs are four additional bedrooms, all with en suite bathrooms and large closets.

And if that’s not enough, there’s a bonus room on the third floor for extra recreational space. The basement also features a kitchenette, projection TV and work-out room.

The basement, with basketball memorabilia, of the Calipari house.
The basement, with basketball memorabilia, of the Calipari house.
An office in the Calipari house, now listed for $3.99 million.
An office in the Calipari house, now listed for $3.99 million.

Outside Calipari’s house: Basketball court, pool

The property also includes a pool and pool house, three-car garage and a half-court basketball court.

The grounds are contained withing a brick and iron fence with a gated driveway. The sale includes two parcels.

There is also a living space over the garage with a bedroom, living room, kitchenette and bathroom. And the pool house has its own kitchenette, bathroom and changing area.

The house was built in 2005; previously there had been two houses on the parcels but both were torn down. When the Caliparis bought the properties, a giant oak tree in front was removed and a wall was built around both lots.

The house at 1732 Richmond Rd. in Lexington, Ky., Thursday, April, 16, 2009. Apparently, new UK basketball coach John Calipari has purchased this house and the vacant lot on the left. Photo by Charles Bertram | Staff
The house at 1732 Richmond Rd. in Lexington, Ky., Thursday, April, 16, 2009. Apparently, new UK basketball coach John Calipari has purchased this house and the vacant lot on the left. Photo by Charles Bertram | Staff
A crew from Rubin’s Tree Service L-R: Jose Duron, Juan Delgado, Adolfo Duarte, Stephen Augillero, Antonio Morales, Francisco Lopez, removed part of the stump of a large pin oak tree from the front of 1732 Richmond Rd. in Lexington, Ky., Monday May 11, 2009. This is the house that new University of Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari has purchased. According to Jose Duron with Rubin’s Tree Service, the tree, which had a diameter at the base of 3 1/2 feet, had a lot of dead spots and could have posed a hazard. The crew cut down the tree yesterday and was spending today removing the large logs and grinding the stump. Photo by Charles Bertram | Staff

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