Mark Pope on the impact Rick Pitino has had on his career

Kentucky‘s 1996 National Championship was a big theme of newly named Wildcats head coach Mark Pope‘s introductory press conference on Sunday. A team that Pope was a captain of as he hoisted the 1996 title and his game-worn championship jersey in front of a sold-out crowd in Rupp Arena with some of his former teammates in attendance as well.

St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino was the head coach of Kentucky’s ’96 National Title team, helping deliver the Wildcats their sixth national championship and the first in 18 years for the program at the time. And when Pope was asked about non-conference scheduling on Sunday, he couldn’t help but throw out the possibility of facing off with his former head coach.

“So anybody here down with a game vs. St. Johns?” Pope asked as fans erupted in Lexington.

“You know I neglected, and I’m actually so embarrassed, somehow I missed my notes,” Pope admitted. “I neglected to pay homage to Coach Rick Pitino. Every coach that has coached here has done amazing things, everybody’s contributed to Big Blue Nation. But Coach Pitino, he changed me.”

Pope played two seasons at Washington before transferring and joining Kentucky. Appearing in every single game for the Wildcats for two seasons after sitting out of the 1993–94 season due to NCAA transfer rules. A time period where Pitino clearly left a big impression on Pope as he now becomes the head coach of his alma mater.

“And I’m telling you, like he changed me to my soul, he changed my DNA as a human being, he allowed me now to be someone that can feel like I can walk into any room and take on any impossible task. And I will love him forever and so I say St. John’s just because I have so much admiration for him. He’s probably the best that ever did it and I love him so much,” Pope said.

Pope was also asked if he’s been in communication with Pitino at all recently as he accepted Kentucky’s head coaching job. Delivering a hilarious confession about one of college basketball’s most fiery coaches while also continuing to shower Pitino with praise.

“Well I still have some PTSD, I get really nervous when I talk to coach,” Pope said. “But coach has been such a gracious, incredible mentor and I love him to death and he is someone that on the right occasions, at the right time I will lean on him for some counsel because he just worked wonders in my life.”

It’s safe to say Pitino played a role in Pope being in the position he now finds himself in today, as all eyes will now be on the Kentucky and St. John’s programs to see if their two head coaches could make an exciting reunion on the hardwood in an epic matchup.