Former college basketball player Mark Pope is returning to Kentucky as the new head coach of the Wildcats basketball program. Pope, who was the captain of the team that won the 1996 national championship, replaces John Calipari, who recently left to take a coaching job at Arkansas. The terms of Pope’s contract were not disclosed, but his introductory press conference is set for Sunday at Rupp Arena. Calipari, who led Kentucky to its eighth NCAA championship in 2012 and four Final Four appearances, felt it was time for the program to hear “another voice.”
Pope has an impressive coaching record, with a career record of 187-108. In five seasons at BYU, he went 110-52 and had a second NCAA Tournament appearance in four years. Before that, he had a 77-56 record in four seasons at Utah Valley, where he led the Wolverines to consecutive runner-up finishes in the Western Athletic Conference. Kentucky’s athletic director, Mitch Barnhart, praised Pope’s coaching abilities and recruiting skills, as well as his integrity. Barnhart believes that Pope’s up-tempo offense and tough defense will be a good fit for the Wildcats.
Pope understands the high expectations that come with coaching at Kentucky, known as college basketball’s winningest program. He expressed his love and passion for the program and the state, acknowledging that UK changed his life forever. The last time Kentucky had a deep NCAA Tournament run was in 2019, when they lost to SEC rival Auburn in the Elite Eight. Former Kentucky coach Rick Pitino, who led the Wildcats to the 1996 championship, believes that Pope is the right candidate to lead the team to another title and that he will achieve greatness.
BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe thanked Pope for his contributions to the program and believes that he left it in a strong position for the future. Pope, who played in the NBA from 1998 to 2005, brings his experience as a player and a coach to Kentucky. The program is excited to see what he will accomplish as head coach. Pope’s coaching style and understanding of the program’s significance to the state of Kentucky made him a strong candidate for the job. Kentucky fans are eager to see where Pope will lead the team in the coming years.
