Did Mitch even run a coaching search?

[Argonaut]

I’m seeing a few of our own fans and many fans of other teams implying that Kentucky went after multiple coaches besides Drew and Hurley and every one of them told poor Mitch “no” before having to settle with Mark Pope.

Like it doesn’t make sense, right? Didn’t Scott Drew turn us down and within a day Pope was our coach? You’re telling me he called multiple other coaches and every single one of them refused the Kentucky job?

The only coaches I remember the media reporting on that we offered were Drew, Hurley and then Pope. I don’t remember any other name popping up during the coaching search.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

I’m HOPING coaches who didn’t want to follow Calipari may be lining up to follow Pope

 

[true-blue1]

I’m HOPING coaches who didn’t want to follow Calipari may be lining up to follow Pope

No upper tier coach will come here and work for Barnhart!

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

No upper tier coach will come here and work for Barnhart!

Get rid of him too. Package deal, they can sit together on the buggy out of town

 

[L.O.D.]

We only went after Drew - that was it . Nothing was offered to Hurley or Oats it's BS - at most back channels were made to Hurley but that wasnt happening anyway.

Drew got cold feet and Mitch b lined to the easiest yes .

All of this mean Bball sn even Footbalm is all MITCH!!!

 

[howitis_rivals115807]

Mitch had his eye on Scott Drew for years. it was his only target. He made a half hearted offer to Uconn's coach and when his guy said no he went to the only other coach he knew who met his religious and family requirements in Pope.

 

[WeWant9_rivals]

Who knows what happened through back channels. If we’re being honest, Barnhart’s search consisted of one guy: Scott Drew. The Hurley stuff was just theatrics to appease BBN. The guy was coming off back to back titles, he wasn’t leaving for another college job.

Once Drew was out, seems they panicked and went with a guy who wouldn’t say no. I have a hard time believing we went from Drew to Pope with everyone in between saying no.

 

[Goingfor9]

Drew is why I’m concerned with Barney leading anymore search. I promise Barney will go back to Drew and probably land him the second time around.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

We only went after Drew - that was it . Nothing was offered to Hurley or Oats it's BS - at most back channels were made to Hurley but that wasnt happening anyway.

Drew got cold feet and Mitch b lined to the easiest yes .

All of this mean Bball sn even Footbalm is all MITCH!!!

That is true. And he really didn’t go after Drew. He thought he had Drew locked up.

He just knew all he had to do was tell Drew the job was open.

When Drew backed out he just called Pope.

 

[Pygmy Sasquatch]

I think he scoured the ILoveAppleJuice.com forums for candidates

 

[Century Cat]

I’m seeing a few of our own fans and many fans of other teams implying that Kentucky went after multiple coaches besides Drew and Hurley and every one of them told poor Mitch “no” before having to settle with Mark Pope.

Like it doesn’t make sense, right? Didn’t Scott Drew turn us down and within a day Pope was our coach? You’re telling me he called multiple other coaches and every single one of them refused the Kentucky job?

The only coaches I remember the media reporting on that we offered were Drew, Hurley and then Pope. I don’t remember any other name popping up during the coaching search.

Think back as far as the Rich Brooks hire. Even then Barnhart said nobody wanted to coach here, and he had to beg Brooks.

This has been a consistent theme - "nobody wants to coach poor UK" - through his snap-hire of Gillispie and his quick hire of Pope. He doesn't know HOW to run a coaching search.

It's all BS.

 

[Farsight Clone]

If I remember correctly. It went like this.

1st Call: Scott Drew (Turned us down, his heart was at Baylor)
2nd Call: Dan Hurley (His wife said no, wants to coach Knicks one day)
3rd Call: Mark Pope (Why would he not take the job? Should have never been offered it)

Like I said in my other thread.

Scott Drew would have been the same as Tubby's tenure but with better recruits.

He called Dan Hurley because of the recognition of who he was to "appease" the fans.

Then he didn't like that Dan Hurley said no, and sent back to the "safe, yes man" hire with Pope.

No one else was probably considered.

The fact that Oats and Pearl was not considered is absurd.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

If I remember correctly. It went like this.

1st Call: Scott Drew (Turned us down, his heart was at Baylor)
2nd Call: Dan Hurley (His wife said no, wants to coach Knicks one day)
3rd Call: Mark Pope (Why would he not take the job? Should have never been offered it)

Like I said in my other thread.

Scott Drew would have been the same as Tubby's tenure but with better recruits.

He called Dan Hurley because of the recognition of who he was to "appease" the fans.

Then he didn't like that Dan Hurley said no, and sent back to the "safe, yes man" hire with Pope.

No one else was probably considered.

The fact that Oats and Pearl was not considered is absurd.

Barney never contacted Hurley or Hurley’s agent.

 

[Farsight Clone]

Barney never contacted Hurley or Hurley’s agent.

Really?

Read this: https://www.foxsports.com/stories/c...y-turned-down-kentucky-offer-to-stay-at-uconn

 

[Cats4321]

I think the Hurley thing was just Mitch's way of saying "well I tried" because he knew Hurley wouldn't take it. He wanted a path to hire Pope.

 

[KyWideWes]

Think back as far as the Rich Brooks hire. Even then Barnhart said nobody wanted to coach here, and he had to beg Brooks.

This has been a consistent theme - "nobody wants to coach poor UK" - through his snap-hire of Gillispie and his quick hire of Pope. He doesn't know HOW to run a coaching search.

It's all BS.

He has as much appeal to high level coaches as Pope does to 5 stars.

 

[KyWideWes]

Barney never contacted Hurley or Hurley’s agent.

Hurley said they used UK to get his staff raises.

 

[TFCat11]

We only went after Drew - that was it . Nothing was offered to Hurley or Oats it's BS - at most back channels were made to Hurley but that wasnt happening anyway.

Drew got cold feet and Mitch b lined to the easiest yes .

All of this mean Bball sn even Footbalm is all MITCH!!!

This, all day long! That Hurley stuff was floated by the same guy(s) who floated the $22 million roster FUBAR!

It. Never. Happened.

As for Oats? Well, that never happened either!

Mitch has “small D syndrome”, and doesn’t want anyone who won’t kiss his butt, and say yes to anything he wants!

Pope isn’t killing the MBB program, the washed up AD is, and he needs to be removed STAT!

 

[Crestcat]

No upper tier coach will come here and work for Barnhart!

Why not? Barney gives out the best contracts for coaches, long term and high dollar.

 

[jedwar]

Pearl was the guy. 5-7 years of unmatched passion and energy. Still might be the guy after next year.

 

[rick64]

IMHO Scott Drew was his first choice. When Drew decided to stay at Baylor, then he moved to Hurley mainly to make the fanbase happy. If he got him, outstanding the fans would've been dancing in the streets.

Honestly I don't think Pearl was ever going to be considered due to his rather checkered past with the NCAA.

Oats has it rolling at Bama, I doubt seriously he would leave. Plus Oats looked rather bad with his comments about gun issue with one of his players.

I've heard some folks say online, of course we know how accurate that can be, that Billy D would've actually been interested in the job this time. Not sure I believe that given he'd turned UK down 2 or 3 times before.

Looks like Dusty May would've been the HR hire based on what he's doing at Michigan.

When Pope's name starting floating around as being a candidate I wasn't exactly jumping for joy. But I was willing to give him a chance. I know Pope loves UK and BBN plus being part of the NCAAT '96 championship. He a pretty good year last year all things considered coming in early April having to put together a staff, trying to get players to fill up the roster.

But he obviously failed terribly in building this roster for the 2025-26 season. The players he got cannot play the way he wants to, and he's got no clue how to make due with what he has.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Pearl was the guy. 5-7 years of unmatched passion and energy. Still might be the guy after next year.

I promise to myself if we hire Pearl, I will grill out barbecue every single day, regardless of weather, until his first Big Blue Madness.

 

[swifterz]

Pearl or Pitino would both walk here. Mitch doesn't have the balls.

 

[UKCowboys]

If I remember correctly. It went like this.

1st Call: Scott Drew (Turned us down, his heart was at Baylor)
2nd Call: Dan Hurley (His wife said no, wants to coach Knicks one day)
3rd Call: Mark Pope (Why would he not take the job? Should have never been offered it)

Like I said in my other thread.

Scott Drew would have been the same as Tubby's tenure but with better recruits.

He called Dan Hurley because of the recognition of who he was to "appease" the fans.

Then he didn't like that Dan Hurley said no, and sent back to the "safe, yes man" hire with Pope.

No one else was probably considered.

The fact that Oats and Pearl was not considered is absurd.

The last sentence is the key point and the main reason I am not pushing to fire Pope today. That would be putting the cart before the horse. What would be the point other than another 2-3 years of mediocrity after MB hires, at best, Drew, and at worst, whoever his option C was AFTER Pope. If you want to get the program where it once was, fire MB. Everything else takes care of itself. MB's replacement will immediately fire Pope to bring in his "Own Guy", and, wanting to make a homerun splash, will throw the bag at Hurley with Oats as option B and Pearl as option C instead of whatever scrub MB would hire next

 

[Cats4321]

Pearl could have been the easiest hire of Mitch's career. Just take the proven winner who desperately wants to coach here.

 

[wccat]

Not sure I remember that President Todd and Mike Pratt had to push Calipari on Mitch.

 

[Zuma75]

When Pope's name starting floating around as being a candidate I wasn't exactly jumping for joy. But I was willing to give him a chance. I know Pope loves UK and BBN plus being part of the NCAAT '96 championship. He a pretty good year last year all things considered coming in early April having to put together a staff, trying to get players to fill up the roster.

But he obviously failed terribly in building this roster for the 2025-26 season. The players he got cannot play the way he wants to, and he's got no clue how to make due with what he has.

This is exactly it for me as well. First reaction was "what the **** is he doing???" But Year 1 gave reason for hope, overall. If not for injuries, who knows ...

But this year has been an utter disaster. The fact that he could fail this spectacularly in just his second year ... it's hard to have faith in his ability going forward.

 

[Farsight Clone]

Pearl was the guy. 5-7 years of unmatched passion and energy. Still might be the guy after next year.

I agree. He brought Tennessee basketball back, and made Auburn basketball what it is today.

Any coach after Pope must have at least ONE Final Four on their resume who can also recruit.

I think the top 5 coaches you go after are:

Bruce Pearl
Nate Oats
Dusty May
Todd Golden
Billy Donovan

 

[jedwar]

I agree. He brought Tennessee basketball back, and made Auburn basketball what it is today.

Any coach after Pope must have at least ONE Final Four on their resume who can also recruit.

I think the top 5 coaches you go after are:

Bruce Pearl
Nate Oats
Dusty May
Todd Golden
Billy Donovan

I love your list except BD. I'm out on him. Not sure May or Golden would come but I 100% believe Pearl would crawl over broken glass for this job.

 

[legalbeagle123]

Barnhart has ruined Kentucky Basketball twice in his tenure here.
He is an absolute disaster.

 

[Big BlueBeard]

Pretty sure all the answers in this thread indicates we don’t know who he the hell he contacted. Offer wise or back channel routes or otherwise.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

Really?

Read this: https://www.foxsports.com/stories/c...y-turned-down-kentucky-offer-to-stay-at-uconn

Barney did not have that discussion.

 

[Dr.LutherSan]

I agree. He brought Tennessee basketball back, and made Auburn basketball what it is today.

Any coach after Pope must have at least ONE Final Four on their resume who can also recruit.

I think the top 5 coaches you go after are:

Bruce Pearl
Nate Oats
Dusty May
Todd Golden
Billy Donovan

Bruce Pearl is not abandoning his political aspirations to return to being a college coach. I also don’t see Donovan returning to the college game, especially not in the current landscape.

 

[MegaBlue05]

No.

Mitch put all his apples in the Scott Drew cart. When Drew said no, Mitch made a half hearted attempt for Hurley so he could be like “I tried” with the fans. The he settled on his fallback option he knew would take the job.

 

[Cats192]

We knew we were going to get Scott Drew. Then we didn't.

I think he went half heartedly after Hurley. I don't think Hurley was leaving.

He checked that box and turned to Pope. I think he likes the clean cut "good morals" guy. And we got this garbage.

We should have went down the AP top 10 and started calling those coaches.

Pope should resign after the season. Someone besides MB should run the search. We should call guys that can coach basketball. I'm confident SOMEONE will take the job. Will we get our first choice? Maybe not.

But I think our 6th or 7th choice is an improvement over this garbage.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

We knew we were going to get Scott Drew. Then we didn't.

I think he went half heartedly after Hurley. I don't think Hurley was leaving.

He checked that box and turned to Pope. I think he likes the clean cut "good morals" guy. And we got this garbage.

We should have went down the AP top 10 and started calling those coaches.

Pope should resign after the season. Someone besides MB should run the search. We should call guys that can coach basketball. I'm confident SOMEONE will take the job. Will we get our first choice? Maybe not.

But I think our 6th or 7th choice is an improvement over this garbage.

There was some back channel conversations with Hurley’s people and dollars thrown out there.

If there was interest Barney would have gotten involved. And with the people that were involved it would have been no problem to bring Barney around.

So there was a possibility that Hurley could have been hired had he shown interest.