Realistically who could we get next?

[USARMYWILDCAT]

I think Mark Pope is going to be here as long as Mitch Barnhardt is here. That could be next year or five years from now. For the sake of the program, let’s hope it’s not five years from now. I don’t think Barnhart is going to want to go through the whole circus of hiring a new basketball coach here again.

When we do hire our next head coach, I believe there will be a new A.D. Whoever that new A.D. is they’re gonna want to hit a home run. I don’t know who the next coach would be. This is the one thing a new A.D. knows they cannot screw up. I guarantee you it’s going to be someone we all would want.

Or I could be completely wrong who knows. Just my two cents.

 

[Anony Moose]

Yes, they are allowed to bring talent with them. He got Jaxon to come. He didn’t get Saunders and that was a HUUUUGE loss, but Saunders wife plays into that. If he is single, he comes. Anybody else from that squad I wouldn’t want to have and a ton of people would say they don’t have UK talent.

Who is to say Pope can’t get a title here? Golden was at Florida for more than 1 year before his title, and pope went way further than Golden did in his first year at Florida.

He had several players that went to other D1 programs that are doing quite well.

You mean Richie's wife was down to visit but had no real interest? It wasn't maybe because they felt better with Kevin Young?

Golden won a title in his 3rd year at UF, improving significantly each year. He also took San Fran to their first tournament in like 24 years.

Pope's resume shows no reasons he will he successful. His 2 years at UK show he won't be successful. His inability to recruit at any level shows no reason he will be successful.

So why would I just ignorantly expect success or championships under him?

 

[Anony Moose]

Two things are at work...Mitch will hire who he wants to hire. Second, its undeniable that UK has had a lot of their first and 2nd options have told them no.
It is also possible that besides Hurley, that MB reached out to Oats and other candidates representation and was told their client had no interest in being here. A lot of folks here were ready to fire Pope 9 games into season two after what was a good first season. If youre Gurley, Oats, Golden...why on earth would you leave a gig where you have job security for that?

Who said no?

Good first season? We had double losses and made the sw16. We have been in the sw16 45 times which is more than half, IIRC. So a sw16 is below average for UK.

Money, accolades, power, history, recruiting potential and the challenge. That's why they are top coaches to begin with.

 

[Anony Moose]

Yeah, I don’t think that’s accurate. We did hire him coming off of a 33 win season, however. Thing with Cal is that he had always wanted to coach at UK. He had the demeanor to do it. Not that many guys out there like that.

Yea, great coaches get where they are by not accepting a challenge.

 

[UKortho]

I hope it doesn’t happen because I like pope and want him to succeed. But if it did, Iowa states coach. It’s amazing what he has done at that program and could become a 1 seed this year and make a deep run.

First choice.

 

[UKortho]

Rumor has it that John Pelphrey is next man up.

 

[Dr.LutherSan]

I’d take a look at Arizona’s coach.

I really like Tommy Lloyd, but he's a west coast guy: born there, raised there, played there, and always worked there. It would be extremely difficult to pull him and his family away from that.

 

[UKCowboys]

Who said no?

Good first season? We had double losses and made the sw16. We have been in the sw16 45 times which is more than half, IIRC. So a sw16 is below average for UK.

Money, accolades, power, history, recruiting potential and the challenge. That's why they are top coaches to begin with.

Life must be good under the rock where you reside

 

[Dr.LutherSan]

Rumor has it that John Pelphrey is next man up.

Just as long as it's a former player or someone that has a connection to the state. That's important.

FWIW, Chris Holtmann was one of the front-runners to get the job if Calipari took the UCLA gig in 2020.

 

[Anony Moose]

Life must be good under the rock where you reside

Great retort! You really destroyed the argument.

 

[UKCowboys]

Great retort! You really destroyed the argument.

Tired of arguing with stupid

 

[Anony Moose]

Tired of arguing with stupid

I bet!

 

[KyKevin]

Why wouldn't good coaches be ready to come?

Because it's the largest, most impatient fan base, and they know it. If they are great coach's that we are talking about, they are already getting paid that big money.

 

[MidseasonTweak]

Billy Donovan

 

[gonefishin]

Pearl, Golden and May.
I wish it was pope but not ain’t. He just doesn’t have what it takes to get uk back to where they belong.
I don’t care the excuse, you had Collins and Stokes on the doorstep and it didn’t happen.
I’m afraid he will have enough flashes of what could be to hang around longer than he should, and it will be a slow death.

I just don’t understand his lack of fight and passion on the sideline. He doesn’t have to be Hurley but fu** man, do something other than squint for 90% of the game.
And the fact that we will have zero top recruits is so alarming.
Oh well, Barnfart is really the one to blame but he doesn’t appear to be going anywhere.
How can UK higher ups be ok with all this?!

 

[Catfan in Tn.]

I would still make Hurley and Oats say no before trying other candidates.

They already have. Darn people.

 

[CRZ4UK]

There are so many coaches that would absolutely KILL it here. Young, motivated, bloodthirsty... give them the resources we have and the backing they get from this program and fanbase and they could turn it back into a juggernaut. No doubt in my mind.

I don’t believe any coach could bring UK back to where it once was with Mitch Barnhart here. He must retire and a hire from outside his group must be made. Our Administration doesn’t care about championships. Just making as much money as possible. CM may have been flawed but he lived and breathed UK basketball. Mitch views it the same as tennis and soccer.
In his 21 years here we are at our lowest point in 100 years. It’s not the coaches. It’s the administrators. Eli is an Alabama academic. Probably never seen and Alabama football game.

 

[carolinacat]

Sarcasm then? Sorry, new to this board and still trying to figure out who are the jokers and who are not.

It won't take you long.

 

[davtay]

LMAO at all these people who think we can just handpick a coach and get whomever we want. Yall just be like 25 years old. Anyway, it’s not true. The pressure to coach here is immense. Most coaches don’t want to deal with it. Especially if they already coach at a good program and/or a program with a good NIL setup.

Going back to when Coach Hall retired, we have NOT gotten our first choice. Turned down in each instant, sometimes more that once, except for Tubby, who was selected by CM Newton with Pitino's recommendation.

 

[Anon1770473266]

Or… the coach at Texas tech. Both coaches though have been in wars in the big 12 and have shown they can win there.

I love how when this subject comes up (it's stupid by the way) that people start throwing out "the coach at _________________," It seems like if one was so gung ho to replace the current guy they'd have at least researched the names of who they want to be the replacement instead of "the coach at (blank)."

 

[Dr.LutherSan]

Going back to when Coach Hall retired, we have NOT gotten our first choice. Turned down in each instant, sometimes more that once, except for Tubby, who was selected by CM Newton with Pitino's recommendation.

I knew that Lute Olson turned it down in 1985, but who was the original choice in 1989?

 

[Pygmy Sasquatch]

I knew that Lute Olson turned it down in 1985, but who was the original choice in 1989?

I think it was PJ Carlesimo. I think Lexington weirded him out, and of course he had a beard

 

[davtay]

I knew that Lute Olson turned it down in 1985, but who was the original choice in 1989?

Lute again then PJ Carlesimo. Don't laugh, PJ was fresh off Championship Game, but he too turned us down. Believe it or not Pitino was third.

 

[davtay]

I think it was PJ Carlesimo. I think Lexington weirded him out, and of course he had a beard

Lol, I do remember some scuttlebutt about the beard.

 

[LargeMarge]

Rumor has it that John Pelphrey is next man up.

That from the same plug who swore Cal was Texas bound ?

 

[OliverSimmonsTwinBrother]

Donovan (Just for traditions safe)
Justus
Richard Pitino

 

[davtay]

That from the same plug who swore Cal was Texas bound ?

I'm pretty sure he practically guaranteed Cade Cunningham was coming. Sources. So, ole ortho doesn't have the best track record.

 

[Anon1739778738]

In b4 “they aren’t coming”. They’ve already called and spoken to them first hand. Best we can do is Travis Ford. UK has no advantages and the fans are too mean.

Hell no to travis Ford he,s a big time loser !

 

[UKortho]

I'm pretty sure he practically guaranteed Cade Cunningham was coming. Sources. So, ole ortho doesn't have the best track record.

I am pretty sure you are FOS. I correctly called Travis Perry to UK when everyone else had it wrong. Missed by one year on Cal because Texas backed away. He left the next year when everyone said he wasn’t going anywhere. Find where I said it. You will not but please waste your time. If your certain, I’ll wager anything you want.

 

[UKGrad24]

First of all, Pitino was no 3rd choice. Not at all. It’s just that our AD at the time didn’t know he was even available and didn’t inquire. He never thought Pitino would have any interests and even almost talked him out of taking it. He was 100% not a 3rd choice. He likely would have been a 1st choice had Newton actually thought he was interested lol. Some of these stories are just nonsense. Newton has explained this many times and Pratt used to love talking about it. Pitino wanting this job was an absolute shocker to all involved. The first thing our AD said to Pitino when he realized he wanted the job, “why”? We were coming off probation and Pitino was one of the hottest younger names in basketball. And HE WANTED IT. LOL!!

Also, PJ wasn’t some scrub and Kentucky might have made him one of the best. He went on to the NBA in 93 and never left. That’s the real reason he turned UK down, he wanted to go to the pros. That was something he actually said years ago, he had a hard time leaving SH but wanted to coach in the NBA.

Olsen wanted this job. It’s probably the only Job he would have even considered. Some of you need to get this at some point. Being turned down doesn’t matter, how interested were they is what matters. Kentucky is so attractive it can get guys who would never leave where they are to take a hard look. Drew opting not to take it because of his wife didn’t mean sht when it comes to UK. The fact that he wanted the job after winning a title, and when he’s never even look at anyone else, is what matters.

“Calipari had a lesser program”. So what? He was out recruiting UK, making final fours over UK, and was winning well beyond UK, and beating UK. And guess what? THIS board said he wouldn’t leave Memphis for Kentucky. This board has been constantly wrong about the power of this job and it’s doing the same sht again. And there are some really bad historians here too.

Kentucky is not a job every man can take. You’re in a fishbowl, you’re famous, and you have to win to elite levels. The best typically want that, it’s why Calipari wanted it. The difference is some aren’t that type of competitor, or they have some kind of ties where they just can’t do it. But they want it. This is the most coveted job in the sport. That’s not going to change at all, and just because some can’t take it or their wife doesn’t want to move their kids doesn’t mean what some of you think it means.

Oh, Donovan was an eyelash from taking this job also, he nearly took it over taking the NBA positions. But he wanted to coach pros at the end of the day. Donovan doesn’t go pro, he leaves his 2 time championship pedigree at Florida to come to UK.

All of this other stuff is nonsense.

 

[davtay]

I am pretty sure you are FOS. I correctly called Travis Perry to UK when everyone else had it wrong. Missed by one year on Cal because Texas backed away. He left the next year when everyone said he wasn’t going anywhere. What have you contributed? Find where I said it or stfu

If I misremembered, I apologize. I must have confused you with another. It was just the Texas thing. I don't contribute because I have no knowledge of the goings on of UK basketball. So I don't get on here and tell things like I do.

 

[UKortho]

If I misremembered, I apologize. I must have confused you with another. It was just the Texas thing. I don't contribute because I have no knowledge of the goings on of UK basketball. So I don't get on here and tell things like I do.

I tried to go back and clean up my language. I apologize. Thought you were someone else.

 

[davtay]

First of all, Pitino was no 3rd choice. Not at all. It’s just that our AD at the time didn’t know he was even available and didn’t inquire. He never thought Pitino would have any interests and even almost talked him out of taking it. He was 100% not a 3rd choice. He likely would have been a 1st choice had Newton actually thought he was interested lol. Some of these stories are just nonsense.

Also, PJ wasn’t some scrub and Kentucky might have made him one of the best. He went on to the NBA in 93 and never left. That’s the real reason he turned UK down, he wanted to go to the pros. That was something he actually said years ago, he had a hard time leaving SH but wanted to coach in the NBA.

Olsen wanted this job. It’s probably the only Job he would have even considered. Some of you need to get this at some point. Being turned down doesn’t matter, how interested were they is what matters. Kentucky is so attractive it can get guys who would never leave where they are to take a hard look. Drew opting not to take it because of his wife didn’t mean sht when it comes to UK. The fact that he wanted the job after winning a title, and when he’s never even look at anyone else, is what matters.

“Calipari had a lesser program”. So what? He was out recruiting UK, making final fours over UK, and was winning well beyond UK, and beating UK. And guess what? THIS board said he wouldn’t leave Memphis for Kentucky. This board has been constantly wrong about the power of this job and it’s doing the same sht again. And there are some really bad historians here too.

Kentucky is not a job every man can take. You’re in a fishbowl, you’re famous, and you have to win to elite levels. The best typically want that, it’s why Calipari wanted it. The difference is some aren’t that type of competitor, or they have some kind of ties where they just can’t do it. But they want it. This is the most coveted job in the sport. That’s not going to change at all, and just because some can’t take it doesn’t mean what some of you think it means.

Lute turned it down twice. The second time in 89. It was then offered to Carlesimo, who turned it down. Then was offered to Pitino, who accepted.

Third.

Fact.

Nothing I posted was nonsense.

 

[davtay]

I tried to go back and clean up my language. I apologize. Thought you were someone else.

No problem, I thought you were someone else. All good.

 

[notFromhere]

T.J. Otzelberger would be my choice too. Heck of a coach/teacher, a likable guy (w/o being cheesy), and has teams that always play tough (win or lose). Plus, he would not lose many fist fights! He has never taken ISU past the Sweet 16 (S16 twice, Round of 32 once, and Round of 64 once), but also doesn't have a Kentucky budget or marketing name. Problem is his wife played at ISU and they have raised their kids in Ames. Might be another case where he might say yes, but his bride says no (we know who the tie always goes to). Before getting the HC job in 2021, he had served as an assistant at ISU from 2006-2013. He could end up being a God there!

That said, for our sake I hope Pope proves to be the guy!

Ames has a beautiful campus and is a great school academically. Not much pressure and yet a TON of support. That would be hard for an ISU family to leave

 

[davtay]

Lute turned it down twice. The second time in 89. It was then offered to Carlesimo, who turned it down. Then was offered to Pitino, who accepted.

Third.

Fact.

Nothing I posted was nonsense.

And PJ didn't leave Seton Hall until 94 so the NBA didn't have anything to do with not accepting UK. Morg, just because you say something with conviction, does not make it fact.

 

[bnewt5]

There are so many coaches that would absolutely KILL it here. Young, motivated, bloodthirsty... give them the resources we have and the backing they get from this program and fanbase and they could turn it back into a juggernaut. No doubt in my mind.

I like the guy at vandy

 

[UKGrad24]

Lute turned it down twice. The second time in 89. It was then offered to Carlesimo, who turned it down. Then was offered to Pitino, who accepted.

Third.

Fact.

Nothing I posted was nonsense.

That does not mean he was a 3rd choice. No sir. You are wrong. And that’s something I know for a fact and it’s coming from guys that are way more into what happened than you. I have been told that story 10 damn times my friend. And they definitely aren’t wrong.

In the beginning they had no idea Pitino had any interests. When Newton got the call that Pitino wanted the job, he was dumbstruck. You’re making it out like Pitino was on a list of 3 that’s BS. I don’t think you’re making it up I just think you’re ill informed

And Olsen wanted the job and flirted multiple times yes. But his family was ingrained. It doesn’t matter that he turned it down what matters is that he wanted it so bad he continued to flirt. After that, Olsen stayed at Arizona for life and never looked around again. That’s what matters the guy wanted it. But some coaches have family reasons why they can’t leave but they WANT to. That’s the point. That shows the strength of the program.

 

[UKGrad24]

93 / 94 irrelevant. Stop taking factoids and spacing them out to appear bigger than they are I don’t care. Fact is PJ wanted to coach in the NBA. Same as Donovan. It’s not an indictment on the program at all.

The pros are the pros.

 

[bbnkat02]

UK literally hired John Calipari off a 38 win season.

From Memphis. Before NIL.

NIL has changed the landscape in where coaches chose to go.

I mean, one of the most storied programs in history who doesn't deny and actually supports spending 22 million annually on a roster.

We are willing to pay top dollar for coaches, upgrade already good facilities and arguably the largest fanbase in CBB.

Why wouldn't good coaches be ready to come?

Expectations- if I can compete for a title at say, Arizona or Michigan where tites are nice and fun but not expected- why would I come to UK where if I don't win one in 3-4 years, my seat goes nuclear?