Kentucky is reportedly finalizing a deal with Mark Pope to become their new head coach, in a surprising move after John Calipari’s departure. Pope, who played at Kentucky in the 90s under Rick Pitino, has been coaching at BYU since 2015, with two NCAA tournament appearances but no wins. Despite his lack of tournament success, Pope’s ties to the program and his solid record at BYU have made him the leading candidate for the job.
Calipari’s departure from Kentucky came after a disappointing first-round exit in the NCAA tournament, which further decreased his approval rating among Wildcats fans. Speculation of his potential firing was tempered by a reported $33 million buyout in his contract, making it difficult for the program to make a change. When rumors of Calipari potentially leaving for Arkansas surfaced, Kentucky found itself in need of a new head coach, leading to the pursuit of Pope as a replacement.
Prior to settling on Pope, Kentucky was reportedly considering other big names in college basketball for the head coaching position. Options like Dan Hurley, Nate Oats, Scott Drew, and Billy Donovan were all discussed, but ultimately fell through for various reasons. Oats reaffirmed his commitment to Alabama, Hurley dismissed the idea, Drew pondered the offer before staying at Baylor, and Donovan was reportedly never seriously pursued. The Wildcats’ pursuit of a high-profile coach ultimately led them to Pope, who may not have been the fans’ first choice.
Despite Pope’s lack of NCAA tournament success as a head coach, his ties to Kentucky as a former player and his solid coaching record at BYU have made him an attractive candidate for the Wildcats. Kentucky will be looking to rebuild under a new head coach after several disappointing tournament exits in recent years. While Pope may not have been the top choice initially, his experience and familiarity with the program could be the key to bringing success back to the storied program. Kentucky fans will be eager to see what Pope can bring to the table as he takes over the reins of the team.
