LEXINGTON, Ky. — One of the last players to emerge from a bus full of Kentucky greats onto the Rupp Arena floor, Mark Pope hoisted the 1996 NCAA championship trophy and basked in the applause during his introduction as the new head coach of Wildcats men’s basketball.
Pope then turned up the energy in the packed arena, making it clear that his expectations are as high as the fans who welcome him into the most challenging chapter of his coaching career.
“Every coach in America, in every other job in America, stands up at the press conference and tries to temper expectations,” Pope said Sunday. “We don’t do that here in Kentucky. When (athletic director) Mitch (Barnhart) called me and talked about being the head coach here at Kentucky, I understood the task. We are here to win flags.”
Pope’s appearance came two days after Kentucky hired him to replace John Calipari, a Hall of Fame coach who was hired by Arkansas on Wednesday after 15 years of prominence by winning the 2012 national championship. The 51-year-old Pope returned home after going 110-52 in five seasons at BYU with two NCAA tournament appearances, including this spring, and He found Rupp Arena exactly as he left it – loud and crowded, even on a late Sunday afternoon in April.
The former Wildcats co-captain faces high expectations as he guides a program that recently broke out early in the NCAA tournament and hasn’t reached the Final Four since 2015. Pressure-filled, sure, but nothing new for Pope after making two free throws. the final minute against Syracuse to help Kentucky win its sixth national title on a powerful 34-2 team called “The Untouchables,” demanding then-coach Rick Pitino.
“I literally was walking (to the line) and I promise you the only thought that came to my mind was that if I didn’t do this, they were going to kill me,” he said. “And who wouldn’t want that? That’s why we’re here, folks. That’s what we do.”
Pope faces numerous tasks as he takes over at Kentucky, starting with building a roster that has already lost two players to the NBA draft, with other decisions looming. He seemed eager to recruit all-state players — pointing to former teammate Richie Farmer in the crowd and calling out Travis Perry, a Kentucky signee who attended the ceremony a month after leading Lyon County High School to the Sweet 16 state title. Pope was also very excited about exploring talent in the transfer portal, as well as facing the challenges posed by the name, image and likeness (NIL) endorsement options that recruits seek.
The challenge that most excited Pope was maintaining Kentucky’s “gold standard” of excellence by winning eight national championships.
Several trophies from that 1995-96 season were displayed on a table next to the podium, a reminder of what Pope helped achieve as a player and the standard he must meet as a coach. Fans applauded each time a highlight from that season with Pope was shown on the video screens, providing the feeling of a pep rally and a home game rolled into one.
Then from the white and blue bus came the parade of Kentucky players, who believe Kentucky has found the right man in Pope, even after talking to several high-profile candidates.
“I was as surprised as everyone else initially,” said former Wildcat Winston Bennett, who coached Pope as an assistant to Pitino. “But as soon as (Pope’s name) came up, I thought, who better to fit the bill than Mark? I was blessed to be a part of Coach Pitino’s staff, so I know his work ethic. I know your passion for the University of Kentucky and what it has done for your life. There is no one better for this job.
“I knew that as soon as his name was mentioned, if they interviewed him, he would get the job. He’s that good.”
