Kentucky reportedly closing in on next head basketball coach
Kentucky is closing in on hiring BYU coach Mark Pope to replace John Calipari, according to multiple reports.
College basketball insider Jon Rothstein was first to share that news on Thursday night. Rothstein also was first to report earlier in the day that Pope was a serious candidate for the job.
BREAKING: Kentucky is closing in on hiring BYU's Mark Pope, per a source.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) April 12, 2024
Other reports from Pete Thamel and Matt Norlander indicate that a deal could be finalized as early as Thursday evening.
Pope has led BYU to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances in the past 5 seasons. He also has deep ties to the program as he was a member of Kentucky’s 1996 national championship team and played for the Wildcats for 2 seasons before moving on to a lengthy pro career.
As a coach, Pope has established himself as a well-respected offensive mind. He led BYU to a top-20 offense this season, per KenPom’s efficiency metric. The Cougars were top-5 nationally in 3-point attempt rate this past year as well.
Kentucky’s search seems to have landed on Pope after UK athletic director Mitch Barnhart missed a few other high-profile candidates. Dan Hurley, Billy Donovan, Scott Drew and Nate Oats were all linked to the job, but have all chosen to remain in their respective posts.
Prior to coaching at BYU, Pope was the head coach at Utah Valley for 4 seasons. In his 9 years as a head coach, Pope has an overall record of 187-108.
Kentucky has not yet announced the hire.
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Maybe nobody’s first choice, but easily one of the smartest coaches out there. He went to an Ivy League med school. Let’s go Cats!
Nobody’s 1st or 2nd or 3rd! Trade Cal for Pope?! Are you kidding!? This has to be a stall tactic for Billy D.
Lol
Did he graduate med school?
” He went to an Ivy League med school. ”
So did Anthony Fauci.
Got a good laugh!
“Maybe nobody’s first choice, but easily one of the smartest coaches out there.”
What makes him smart with regards to basketball?
Pitino coaching tree.
“Pitino coaching tree.”
Sure, run with that.
Great. He can be the team doctor too?
Y, soitenly.
Barnhart threw as much as 11 million at prospective top coaches with no bites. You can’t get a top tier coach when the so-called fans have been on the net whining 24/7 for 2 straight years. I love Pope, but sheesh.
2 coaches. He offered 2. Don’t act like he went out and talked to a bunch of people
But there were sure a lot of Kentucky fans making jokes about Arkansas after they missed on Beard and Tang. The point all along is if you don’t go after what you think is best, you ain’t tryin. Nothing wrong with getting turned down, just shows you arent’ willing to settle. Well…at least at first.
Some turned it down before even being offered.
Geez…. What an uninspiring hire. Surprising. Very surprising.
Not so sure about that. If there is a large crowd at Rupp tomorrow to welcome him back to Lexington, then I will say you might be wrong. I wish I could be there.
We will have to wait and see how this works out. Obviously he will get more talent at UK than he could at BYU. The troubling part about his time at BYU was that his first two years are when he posted his best records and conference finishes. He has finished 5th the past three years. Pitino endorsed him, so I guess that’s something.
I agree…wait and see. I think he will be fine. The fans need to get behind him of course.
Tell me, Kentucky fans; would you rather have Pope or still have Coach Cal? No other choices, just A or B? As a casual observer, just curious.
So done w/ Cal, so while not an “A list” guy, we will welcome Coach Pope.
Might be dreaming a bit, but hoping his friendship w/ ex-teammate Jeff Sheppard might keep Reed around another year.
Watching Cal talk and do Arky media, I am 100% honest when I say I am extremely happy to not have to listen to his preach and ramble anymore. I’ll miss the glory days – but it was time. As far as would I rather have him over Mark Pope, well 7 years ago Cal yes. 2024 Cal, I’ll roll the dice with Pope.
I am OK with the hire, also. I remember the Pitino teams. Pope will fit right in after the fans get behind him, which they will – especially those of us older guys.
Pope.. great pick. Wait and see.. Cal will razzlle and dazzle and then fizzle just like always.
Mark Pope has 0 career NCAA tournament wins, the same as me, yikes.
Mark Pope was on one of the greatest college basketball teams of all time. That’s a considerably larger ring than your bag of funyns. Stay in your lane.
The very first thought that went through my mind when I read this. WHO?
You will learn more about him next season. The game announcers will make sure at every game we play. Mark who? I think he will be fine as a head coach.
Very underwhelming hire. Feels like a panic move after being rejected by the first 4-5 candidates. UK could of done better, roll the dice with Will Wade or someone else, complete panic move going with an alum with a very mediocre career, won’t end well.
Could have*. With that out of the way, I completely agree with your take.
2 candidates. Drew and Hurley turned it down. Thats it.
How it will end remains to be seen.
This is just my take, but if Pope is hired and it turns out bad, UK might be looking for a new basketball coach AND a new AD. Mitch… I think you had better be right on this one.
57939names, I have been off the Cal train for about 2 to 3 years. That said, I would still rather keep Cal at least one more year than Pope. I honestly want Pope to do extremely well, but I just have a bad feeling on this one. I hope we don’t have another mess like the Billy Clyde Gillispie years.
Mark runs an exciting offense and isn’t going to just roll the ball out there. Plus it bodes well for Reed to come back. And Mark has night and day character and intelligence from the drunk that just wanted to yell at his players.
Good hire or not only time will tell, but automatically opens up a additional 5 million for NIL.
I must admit surprise. I have always thought it was a “slam dunk” job but apparently the dysfunction repelled the best options and now having to go to second tier? Maybe not as attractive as I thought.
It is just as likely that the first tier guys are just where they are. Nothing wrong with that.
The two guys that turned down the job: Drew – religious nut who said he was in.. but his wife wasn’t so he backed out because god told them to. Hurley – how do you not go for a 3peat?
It takes a little basketball knowledge to decipher this for what it really is
UK no longer has an NBA G league team
UK no longer has a coach that rolls the ball out and hopes talent prevails
UK will no longer attempt to put NBA players at every position but will instead value the smarter, experienced player.
Most UK fans that actually have basketball insight are pretty excited about this hire.
Go Cats!
Yuppp
A page out of UNC/Duke’s book. Mark runs fun stuff and outcoached teams with better talent. Unlike what Cal would have you believe, recruiting isn’t as important as transfers and NIL. I’m good with this hire, and remember Hurley had a pretty mediocre record when UCONN hired him.
It is in my opinion the best hire. I did not think this until I researched Pope’s history as a coach. I am a huge happy fan now.
I think you are right. This was probably the best guy for the job.
Ky took the route Duke and UNC did with coach selection of former players. One thing is for sure Pope played for KY won a national championship and loves KY truly unlike a lot of other players who left KY and went on to NBA.
Maybe the logic is that If Pope wins, great. If he doesn’t, maybe play for a Donovan return after he has been out of BB a college season after leaving the NBA. But by then, Florida might be in play for a Donovan return.
He was signed to a five-year contract, so I would imagine that we passed on the future Donovan option. Sounds like he is our guy. Now I am itching for basketball season to begin when I should be thinking about football. Hey, how about the Bat Cats? That is a bigger surprise than the Pope hire.
UK fans need to take a deep breath. Mark Pope’s offense is similar to Oat’s and exciting to watch. BYU beat Baylor, San Diego State, NC State, Kansas, Iowas State in its first season in the Big 12 and is preseason ranked no 14. Pope wants to be here and will excel. Quit whining and do some research about this upcoming coach. I am very happy with this hire.
If Pope can bring Colin Chandler to UK it could be amazing. He may stay at BYU. Time will tell.
Amazing because of Colin Chandler? Mannnnn
Yes…Reed Sheppard on steroids. Watch his highlights and you will be wanting him here.
I hope Tyler Ulis and our other coaching staff will stay on board. Maybe we could get Kenny Payne back, also. This could end up being a really smart decision.
Apparently, the coaching staff will be following Cal to Arky, according to reports I have heard. That surprises me, if it happens.
Also, I hope we can keep the players we still have.
These Kentucky fans seem to be scared to death of what might happen and seem to be covering all the bases to justify whatever happens.