Rick Pitino strongly endorses Kentucky's hiring of Mark Pope
Rick Pitino coached Mark Pope at Kentucky as a player back during the 90s. Now, with Pope taking over as the next head coach in Lexington almost 30 years later, his former head coach has given him his seal of approval.
Pitino released a video on Friday where he endorsed Pope, who is now officially the next leader of the Wildcats. He applauded the hire based on what he brings to the table and what all he still has to accomplish in his career.
“What a special day at the University of Kentucky. The leader, the captain of The Untouchables is coming home to lead the Wildcats,” said Pitino.
This is Pitino’s position considering what he sees in Pope as a coach. Pairing his coaching acumen with the resources of his new program will, in his eyes, should lead to more success than some realize.
“Mark Pope, offensively? No one does it better,” Pitino said. “The way his teams move, the way his teams shoot the three, the ball movement, the player movement is outstanding.”
“What some of you don’t realize is how good a basketball mind he has, how much a relentless recruiter he will be,” said Pitino. “Now, recruiting is different today. We’re now coaching all pros. The NIL has taken away amateur basketball and has made them professional athletes. I’m sure Kentucky is going to have strong NIL.”
To be fair, this is not the name or the resumé that anyone saw eventually coming out from the coaching search at Kentucky. The Wildcats, at least their fanbase, had their sights set on much sexier names. Still, every coach has to start somewhere and, as such, Pitino sees this as Pope’s moment to shine.
“A lot of people out there talking about Jay Wright, Danny Hurley, Billy Donovan,” Pitino said. “They all had their trials and tribulations as well early on. But Mark Pope went into the Big 12 this year, beat Kansas at Kansas, beat Baylor at home, and, in his first year, got to the NCAA.”
“What you don’t realize? It took Jay Wright 11 years to finally get an NCAA win. Billy Donovan was at Marshall for two years, didn’t have an NCAA appearance. He went on to greatness,” said Pitino. “Mark Pope will go on to greatness. You can put it down.”
Pitino also realizes how much this opportunity is going to mean to Pope. Pope won a national title as a senior in 1996. He spent three years at Kentucky in total and averaged 7.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 69 games overall.
That experience has now led to this full-circle moment that Pitino knows will certainly represent a lot to Pope and the people of the bluegrass.
“I remember, as if it was yesterday, John Pelphrey getting misty eyes in my first year as a basketball coach at Kentucky. Every time he put on the uniform, he was near tears. I said to him, ‘John, what is with you every time you put that uniform on?’. He said, ‘Coach, you just don’t understand what this means to all of us from Kentucky,'” Pitino recalled. “Well, I guarantee you one thing. Nobody, nobody epitomizes the name ‘Kentucky’ on the front of the jersey more than Mark Pope.”
It remains to be seen how this hire and Pope’s tenure are going to go over in Lexington. There’s plenty of work to be done with now taking over after 15 successful seasons under John Calipari.
Still, to Pitino, Pope is and was the man for the job at Kentucky. He, much like everyone else, is highly anticipating how he will do at the helm of one of the biggest gigs in college ball.
“You have one of the premier young coaches in the game. Relish it because he will do you proud. I know I sit here today at St. John’s and I couldn’t be any more prouder than to see Mark Pope lead the Kentucky Wildcats to another championship. He’ll get it done,” said Pitino. “He has got the right stock, he has got a beautiful family, and he loves – absolutely loves – Kentucky across his chest.”
“Get it done, Mark! I love you. You’re going to do a fabulous job,” Pitino said.