While some fans had higher hopes for Kentucky, finishing in the Sweet 16 in the first year with a new coach (not to mention injuries) is a positive sign.
A year ago, John Calipari shockingly left to take the job at Arkansas, and Kentucky wasted no time in hiring BYU’s Mark Pope as his replacement.
The first year with Pope went well, and he was welcomed by fans warmly, especially since he played at Kentucky during his college days.
After a Sweet 16 loss, Pope even received some big contract news: He earned a one-year extension, per Jon Rothstein.
“Kentucky’s Mark Pope received an automatic one-year contract extension after the Wildcats made the Sweet 16, according to a team official. Pope’s contract now runs through the 2029-30 season, with a $250,000 salary increase set for the final year of the deal,” Rothstein wrote on X.
Initially, Kentucky signed Pope to a five-year deal that pays him $5.5 million per season, as Matt Norlander reported.
The 51-year-old was a member of the 1995-96 championship team at Kentucky, and his hiring was a quick one after Calipari’s departure.
After just one year, Pope gets an extension and a slight payraise in the final year of his deal, and more bonuses could be in store if Kentucky keeps trending in the right direction.
