Mark Edward Pope, born on September 11, 1972, in Omaha, Nebraska, is a prominent figure in American collegiate basketball, both as a former player and a coach. He currently serves as the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball team.
Early Life and Playing Career
Pope attended Newport High School in Bellevue, Washington, before beginning his collegiate basketball career at the University of Washington. There, he earned Pac-10 Freshman of the Year honors in 1992, averaging 8.1 rebounds per game—a freshman single-season school record. After two seasons, he transferred to the University of Kentucky, where he played a pivotal role in leading the Wildcats to an NCAA national championship in 1996. Pope was known for his versatility on the court, playing both power forward and small forward positions.
In the 1996 NBA Draft, Pope was selected in the second round by the Indiana Pacers. He enjoyed a six-season NBA career, playing for teams including the Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, and Denver Nuggets. His professional playing career concluded in 2005.
Coaching Career
After retiring as a player, Pope briefly enrolled in medical school at Columbia University but soon returned to basketball as a coach. He began his coaching career as the director of basketball operations at the University of Georgia for the 2009–10 season, followed by a stint as an assistant coach at Wake Forest University. From 2011 to 2015, he served as an assistant coach at Brigham Young University (BYU), contributing to multiple 20-win seasons and NCAA Tournament appearances.
In 2015, Pope was appointed head coach at Utah Valley University (UVU), where he led the team to significant improvements, including back-to-back 20-win seasons and postseason appearances. His success at UVU paved the way for his return to BYU as head coach in 2019. Under his leadership, BYU achieved a 24–8 record in his first season—the most wins for a first-year coach in the program’s history. The team was projected to secure an at-large bid for the NCAA Tournament before its cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In April 2024, Pope was named the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball team, returning to his alma mater to lead one of the most storied programs in college basketball. His coaching debut was marked by a decisive victory, and he secured his first win against a ranked team with an upset over Duke University in the Champions Classic.
Personal Life
Pope is married to Lee Anne, the daughter of the late Lynn Archibald, a former head basketball coach at the University of Utah and assistant at BYU. The couple has four daughters. Pope is also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Throughout his career, both as a player and a coach, Mark Pope has demonstrated a deep commitment to the sport of basketball, earning respect and admiration for his contributions to collegiate athletics.