Pitino Endorses Mark Pope’s Greatness, Offers to Contribute to UK NIL

Twitter Photo

It was no surprise to see former Kentucky coach Rick Pitino praising his former player Mark Pope after he was officially named the new Kentucky coach Friday.

Pope was a key player on UK’s 1996 national championship team and a team captain. He was a unique personality who got along well with Pitino and his teammates. Whatever role the team needed, Pope filled and did it well.

He’s been successful as the BYU head coach for the last five years but now he’s moving to the elite level. Pitino, now the coach at St. John’s, has no doubts Pope will be great and took the time to share a two-minute video on social media about his former player and his future at UK.

“A lot of people out there talk about Jay Wright, Danny Hurley, Billy Donovan. They all had their trials and tribulations as well early on,” Pitino said in his video. “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.

“Mark Pope, offensively, no one does it better. The way his teams move, the way his teams shoot to three, the ball movement, the player movement, is outstanding.”

Pitino pointed out it took Jay Wright 11 years to get an NCAA Tournament win and that Billy Donovan was at Marshall two years without a NCAA appearance but he went on to win two national titles at Florida.

“Mark Pope will go on to greatness. You can put it down,” Pitino said.

The former UK coach shared how John Pelphrey, one of his first players at UK, used to get “misty-eyed” just putting on the UK uniform because it meant so much to him. Pitino said Pope was the same way and loves Kentucky basketball.

“Well, I can guarantee you one thing. Nobody, nobody epitomizes the name Kentucky on the front of the jersey more than Mark Pope,” Pitino said.

It’s hard to tell how Pope will recruit at UK. He’s never had big-time facilities and a name program to use. Instead, at BYU he had to deal with the honor code that includes no alcohol, tobacco, and other bans that discourage some recruits. He also didn’t have a NIL budget as he’ll now have at UK as two boosters have put in over $4 million since his hire.

“What some of you don’t realize is how good a basketball mind he has. How much of a relentless recruiter he will be. 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 a strong NIL,” Pitino said.

Later on ESPN radio in Lexington with Alan Cutler, the former UK coach even offered to contribute to UK’s NIL — something I sure was done to help support Pope but maybe take a little random shot at former UK coach John Calipari as well.

“I can assure you, if they need the NIL money, I’ll write the check,” Pitino told Cutler.

Pitino said UK fans should “relish” having Pope to lead the UK program.

“I couldn’t be any more proud than to see Mark Pope lead Kentucky to another national championship,” Pitino said. “Get it done Mark, I love you. You are going to do a fabulous job.”