Mark Pope addresses incoming changes to coaching staff
Change is coming to Kentucky. With John Calipari out and head coach Mark Pope in, fans can expect a staff makeover in Lexington next season. During his introductory press conference on Sunday, Pope provided fans with a sneak peek at what that makeover will look like.
“It’s one of the fun things about college basketball. It’s so dynamic right now,” Pope said. “The portal, NIL, conference realignment has changed everything so quickly.
“Building a staff now, you’re not just looking for the skillsets of long-term development and even just recruiting, you’re considering [general manager] positions that can navigate a roster. You’re considering NIL positions.”
Pope is yet to officially hire any staff members. However, he’ll certainly face a clean slate. According to Matt Norlander of CBS Sports, Calipari is expected to bring most of his staff from this past season with him to Arkansas. In fact, Calipari intends to bring four of his five assistants from the 2023-24 Kentucky team.
Those include associate to the head coach Bruiser Flint, associate coach Orlando Antigua, assistant coach Chuck Martin, and assistant coach Chin Coleman. Additionally, Norlander reported that Calipari’s son, Brad, who served as Vanderbilt’s director of on-court player development this past season, will also join the Razorbacks’ staff in Fayetteville.
No matter who Pope ultimately adds to his staff ahead of the 2024-25 season, Kentucky athletics director Mitch Barnhart has faith in the 51-year-old head coach.
“He will guide us back to our heart,” Barnhart said. “Through all the changes in college sports, he understands the DNA that leads us to our destination. He said this place changed the trajectory of his life. We are ready and excited he is ready to do the very same for the young men in our program, and we’re excited for that.”
Pope didn’t hesitate to give fans even more to yell about.
“I’m going to get crushed for doing this,” Pope prefaced. “Every coach in America at every other job stands up in their press conference and they try and moderate expectations. We don’t do that here at Kentucky.
“When Mitch called me and talked to me about being the head coach here at Kentucky? I understand the assignment. We are here to win banners.”
Mark Pope’s words were music to Kentucky fans’ ears. Under Calipari, the team had not won an NCAA Tournament game in the past five seasons. Pope will look to return UK to its former heights.