Nancy Turner
Apr 13, 2024 - 11:10

Introduction of Mark Pope as Kentucky men's basketball coach: How to attend and watch

Former Kentucky player Mark Pope announced as new head coach, replacing John Calipari. Fans excited for the upcoming season.

The exciting news broke on Friday morning that Mark Pope, former head coach at Utah Valley and BYU, would be taking over as the head coach in Lexington for the Kentucky Wildcats, replacing the legendary John Calipari after his remarkable 15-season tenure with the team.

Pope brings a wealth of experience to the role, having been a captain on Kentucky's 1996 national championship team and playing in 14 of 69 games during his two seasons on the court for the Wildcats. He originally began his college career at Washington before transferring.

With a significant amount of roster turnover at UK, including players in the NCAA transfer portal, those declaring for the NBA draft, and decommitments from the 2024 recruiting class, Pope has his work cut out for him in building a competitive team for the upcoming season.

Before diving into the task of rebuilding the roster, Pope will be officially introduced as the new head coach of the Kentucky men's basketball team. The introduction will take place at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday at Rupp Arena in downtown Lexington, with fans invited to attend the press conference for free starting at 3:30 p.m.

Limited concessions will be available at Rupp Arena during the event, which will be moderated by UK broadcaster Tom Leach. Fans can access the arena through the main entrance off High Street, with parking available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The anticipation for Pope's era at Kentucky is palpable, with former player Jeff Sheppard expressing his excitement for the new chapter in the team's history. With donors already pledging $4 million to UK basketball NIL after Pope's hiring, expectations are high for success under his leadership.

Even Rick Pitino, a rival coach, has praised Pope's abilities, predicting that he will achieve great success at Kentucky. The stage is set for a new era of Kentucky basketball under the guidance of Mark Pope, a proven leader with a championship pedigree.