It seems that the Kentucky men’s basketball team has found its new coach.
The Wildcats are reportedly in the process of finalizing an agreement with Mark Pope, a former Kentucky player and the current coach at Brigham Young University. If the deal goes through, Pope would take over as the new head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats, following the departure of John Calipari, who recently accepted the head coaching position at Arkansas after spending 15 seasons at Kentucky.
During his time at Kentucky from 1994-1996, Pope had an impressive performance on the court, averaging 7.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 69 games. Notably, he played a crucial role in helping the Wildcats secure a national championship during his senior season. Pope’s coaching career began in 2019 when he took on the role of head coach at BYU. Under his guidance, the Cougars have thrived, boasting a remarkable 110-52 record and making two NCAA Tournament appearances in just five seasons. Prior to his tenure at BYU, Pope served as the head coach at Utah Valley, where he achieved an impressive 77-56 record over four seasons.
During his time as the head coach, Calipari achieved remarkable success with the Wildcats. Under his guidance, the team boasted an impressive record of 410-123, made it to the Final Four four times (in 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2015), and clinched a national championship in 2012. However, following an unexpected upset in the first round of the tournament against No. 14 Oakland, Calipari made the difficult decision to part ways with the Wildcats. Shortly after, he was officially introduced as the new coach at Arkansas on Wednesday.
After Calipari left, Kentucky’s Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart declared on X that the Wildcats are actively searching for an experienced and committed coach who fully understands the significance of this program to the fans and the state of Kentucky.
Kentucky had previously considered Scott Drew, the head coach of Baylor, for the job. However, after discussions with the Wildcats, Drew ultimately decided to stay with the Bears. In a statement shared on social media on Thursday, Drew reaffirmed his commitment to Baylor.
“We prioritize Jesus, others, and ourselves in our program,” the statement emphasized. “We firmly believe that God has chosen my family and me to carry on our work here at Baylor, surrounded by an incredible group of individuals and a supportive community. We eagerly anticipate collaborating to bring more championships to Waco.”
Pope is set to confront a wave of uncertainty surrounding the team’s current roster. The upcoming season brings with it a series of crucial decisions to be made by both existing players and a highly touted incoming class that ranks among the nation’s finest. Notably, Rob Dillingham has opted to declare for the NBA draft, while Aaron Bradshaw has entered the transfer portal in light of Calipari’s recent departure from the school. Additionally, Adou Thiero and Joey Hart have also joined the transfer portal, adding further complexity to the team’s composition.
