Cody Fueger and Jason Hart selected for 2025 Elite 75 Future Head Coach Power Lunch

Two of Kentucky‘s top assistants will have to hit pause on their recruiting phone calls this week as they look to load up the roster with best portal targets. Not for long, just enough to participate in a prestigious meeting of the nation’s rising coaches primed for head jobs sooner rather than later.

Cody Fueger and Jason Hart, both entering their second seasons with the Wildcats, have been selected to attend the 2025 Elite 75 Future Head Coach Power Lunch, held Thursday at The Creamery in San Antonio ahead of the Final Four.

Presented by Silver Waves Media, the event recognizes 75 coaches who have distinguished themselves in the basketball space and are seen as potential Division I head coaches. A total of 50 athletic directors, 50 associate athletic directors and seven search firms will also be in attendance.

Mark Pope hired both assistant coaches as part of his inaugural staff in Lexington, helping lead Kentucky to a 24-12 overall record and the program’s first Sweet 16 appearance since 2019. Together, they earned eight top-15 wins, tying an all-time college basketball record.

Other invitees include:

• Brian Adams – Alabama
• Brian Kloman – Louisville
• Brian Michaelson – Gonzaga
• Carlin Hartman – Florida
• Chris Burgess – BYU
• David Velasquez – San Diego State
• David Miller – Xavier
• David Patrick – LSU
• DeAndre Haynes – Michigan
• Emanuel Dildy – Duke
• James Kane – Dayton
• James Miller – Oklahoma State
• Jeremy Case – Kansas
• Joel Justus – Ohio State
• Justin Gainey – Tennessee
• Justin Joyner – Michigan
• Kellen Sampson – Houston
• Kimani Young – UConn
• Kurtis Townsend – Kansas
• Luke Murray – UConn
• Matt Bucklin – Vanderbilt
• Michael Musselman – USC
• Mike Ekanem – Oklahoma State
• Mike Nardi – Villanova
• Ryan Pannone – Alabama
• Steven Pearl – Auburn
• Ulric Maligi – Kansas State
• Wayne Hunter – Stanford
• Will Voight – BYU

Of the 2024 selections, 12 assistant coaches went on to become head coaches. Of the 2025 selections, nine are already head coaches — namely Jai Lucas (Miami), Ryan Miller (Murray State) and Josh Pastner (UNLV).

How long will it take for Kentucky’s assistants to get their first shots leading a program? Don’t forget about Alvin Brooks III, either. All three are capable — but hopefully they’re able to stick around in Lexington as long as possible until they get the call to the big leagues.