Kentucky is planning to bring in BYU coach Mark Pope as its next men’s basketball coach, according to sources. After Scott Drew of Baylor and Dan Hurley of UConn turned down offers from Kentucky, Pope was quickly approached and negotiations began on Thursday afternoon. It is expected that Pope will finalize an agreement with Kentucky by the end of Thursday night.
Reports suggest that Pope has been offered a five-year contract averaging $5.5 million per season, excluding incentives. Pope will be taking over the position left vacant by John Calipari, who recently departed for Arkansas after a successful tenure of 15 years at Kentucky.
Despite Kentucky’s prestigious history in the sport, Pope’s selection was not the most anticipated choice. However, as a former Kentucky player, Pope has deep connections to the school and has always had the desire to return to his alma mater one day. With nine years of head coaching experience, including successful stints at Utah Valley and BYU, Pope brings a strong track record to the role.
Pope’s appointment came over other notable names like Billy Donovan and Rick Pitino. His high-energy coaching style and support from former players made him a standout candidate. Pope’s teams have consistently performed well on the court, with successful runs in the NCAA Tournament and impressive offensive strategies.
If the deal goes through, Pope will become only the second men’s basketball coach in Kentucky’s history to have played for the program and then gone on to coach it. This opportunity represents a dream come true for Pope. An official announcement is expected to be made on Friday.
Source https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/kentucky-to-hire-mark-pope-byu-coach-1996-wildcats-player-agrees-to-take-over-for-john-calipari/
