LEXINGTON — Kentucky hopes a player who was part of one of its national title teams can lead the program back to glory as its new coach.
UK named Mark Pope, who played for coach Rick Pitino on Kentucky’s 1996 national championship squad, as its new coach. According to CBS Sports senior writer Matt Norlander, Pope’s contract with the Wildcats reportedly will be a five-year deal paying $5.5 million per season.
“Mark Pope not only brings an impressive record in nine years as a head coach, but also a love of the University of Kentucky and a complete understanding of what our program means to the people of our state,” UK athletics director Mitch Barnhart said in a news release announcing the hire Friday. “As a captain on the ‘96 championship team, Mark was a beloved and respected teammate. As a head coach, he is highly regarded nationally as an innovator. His teams run a unique and dynamic up-tempo offense and they get after it on defense. He is a strong recruiter with international ties and a person of integrity.
“He fully embraces our high expectations and standards and I know that as our fans get reacquainted with Mark, they will be eager to join him on what promises to be an exciting ride.”
Pope spent the past five seasons at BYU, where he compiled a 110-52 (.679) record. He guided the Cougars as they transitioned from the West Coast Conference to the Big 12. During the 2023-24 season, BYU’s first as a Big 12 member, it went 10-8, tying for fifth. The Cougars went 1-1 in the Big 12 Tournament, falling to Texas Tech in the quarterfinals. They quickly bowed out of the NCAA Tournament, losing to Duquesne, 71-67, in the first round.
“The University of Kentucky is the pinnacle of coaching in college basketball. It’s the definition of blueblood program where hanging a banner is the expectation ever…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/mark-pope-named-kentucky-basketball-142150403.html
Author : The Courier Journal
Publish date : 2024-04-12 14:21:50
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