Coach Pope is constant motion! Traveling everywhere to help our present guys and recruiting future Cats. Unreal the miles and time he logs as the UK HC.
Hope CM Pope doesn’t burn himself out
- Thread starter theKybluedude
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I worry about that a little too but Pope is built different. I think he genuinely loves the job and for him it's more of a lifestyle than work. I could see him starting to miss his family at some point though.
I hope he doesn't burn himself out, too, but this stuff honestly seems to give him life.
Coach Pope is definitely a high energy guy. I think Pitino talked about his energy and work ethic when he was playing here. I suspect he’s the type that doesn’t do well with “down time”.
Im not sure burn out would be the term I’d use. It’s hard to burn out on something if you’re having fun and love it. I do wish he would slow down some though, it’s a long career and I do agree that max effort which I believe he is giving isn’t sustainable for 20 years+.
Personally I think the Burnout talk with UK has always been a bit overblown. If coach K can coach 50 years at one program you should be able to do that even easier here, or at least substantially more than 10 years. If Rupp could coach here 4 decades well then t's already been done. Pitino could have easily done it had he stayed. Joe B walked into a buzzsaw after Rupp and dealt with way more than many realize. I don't think the job itself is literally 10 years - that was from Joe B's perspective dealing with the Rupp era fanbase, administration, and Rupp himself -which probably aged Joe 10 years by the second season.
You want to avoid burnout here? Quit having early success then deciding you're too good to care or adapt, or work. Win 2 titles here in a 15 years period and you can have the easiest job in the world. I really believe Mark and burnout aren't possible. Biggest kept secret that nobpdy talks about? Kentucky is still in search of their modern goat. Pitino had it and is the closest we've seen. Calipari got pretty lose (not as close as Pitino) and decided he would be a moron. The truth is - we're still waiting on our modern goat. Mark isn't thinking about burnout he's thinking about that. Many great coaches have a title at UK, none have won 2 since our founder. To hell with burnout go get it. Or be replaced by someone who will.
Many coaches have won a title. few have won the second. That's driving Pope. He wants to cement his name as the guy who was able to get that done at Kentucky.
You want to avoid burnout here? Quit having early success then deciding you're too good to care or adapt, or work. Win 2 titles here in a 15 years period and you can have the easiest job in the world. I really believe Mark and burnout aren't possible. Biggest kept secret that nobpdy talks about? Kentucky is still in search of their modern goat. Pitino had it and is the closest we've seen. Calipari got pretty lose (not as close as Pitino) and decided he would be a moron. The truth is - we're still waiting on our modern goat. Mark isn't thinking about burnout he's thinking about that. Many great coaches have a title at UK, none have won 2 since our founder. To hell with burnout go get it. Or be replaced by someone who will.
Many coaches have won a title. few have won the second. That's driving Pope. He wants to cement his name as the guy who was able to get that done at Kentucky.
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100% well said. I think Pope has a minimum of 3 before he's gone. Starting with this year.
College basketball just keeps getting harder for head coaches. Just when you think it couldn’t get any tougher the NCAA adds something new like wanting to add more teams to the ncaa tourney which is crazy already. On top of that you have to deal with NIL, the transfer portal, and high school recruiting. We are blessed to have a coach who loves this program and understands the assignment.
I think as long as he has someone to manage NIL, and adequate monies, he’ll be fine. Can’t imagine being a coach and trying to handle both sides.
Whatever you say. Ive been coaching select baseball for 25 years. 4 boys, 2 that played college ball. Thats spring, summer and fall, tourneys every weekend, usually 5-6 games a week and a fee 2 hour practices a week. Plus i give hitting lessons year round. I do not believe you burn out doing something that you love doing. Maybe if you are doing it for the money. But I dont see that in Coach Pope