Breaking: Kentucky Hires Mark Pope to Succeed John Calipari
On April 12, 2024, the University of Kentucky announced that Mark Pope, the head coach at BYU, will take over the Wildcats’ men’s basketball program, succeeding Hall of Famer John Calipari (AP News).
Pope, now 51, is no stranger to Kentucky—he was a captain of the 1996 national championship team, part of a storied era led by Rick Pitino (AP News). His return holds symbolic weight: a former Wildcat returning to coach the program to greatness.
In his five seasons at BYU, Pope compiled a 110–52 record, steering the Cougars to two NCAA Tournament appearances (AP News). Prior to that, at Utah Valley, he posted a 77–56 mark over four years, guiding the program to back-to-back WAC runner-up finishes and CBI quarterfinal berths (AP News, Wikipedia).
Atlanta director Mitch Barnhart praised Pope’s 187–108 career head coaching record, describing his style as a potent “dynamic up‑tempo offense and tough defense.” Barnhart also lauded him as a strong recruiter with international ties and deep integrity (AP News, The Hill).
Pope faces the immense challenge of restoring Kentucky to national prominence. Under Calipari’s 15-year tenure, the Wildcats achieved four Final Four appearances and the 2012 national championship—but they have not returned to the Final Four since 2015 (AP News, The Hill).
Despite interest in other high-profile candidates, including Baylor’s Scott Drew, UConn’s Dan Hurley, and NBA’s Billy Donovan, all declined the opportunity, clearing the path for Pope (AP News, FOX Sports).
Rick Pitino, who led Kentucky to its 1996 title and helped resurrect the program from sanctions, backed the hire:
Pope will be officially introduced at a press conference in Rupp Arena, likely slated for the coming Sunday following the announcement (AP News). His immediate task includes rebuilding a roster that has already seen key figures like Rob Dillingham, Aaron Bradshaw, and Adou Thiero depart via NBA draft or transfer (FOX Sports, Newsday).
While Pope may not have been the marquee name Kentucky initially pursued, his roots with the program, impressive coaching record, and offensive innovation bring hope to fans eager for a return to national title contention. His journey—from UK player to returning head coach—is a powerful chapter in Kentucky’s storied basketball legacy.