Mark Pope

Mark Pope

Pope in 2019
Kentucky Wildcats
Position	Head coach
League	Southeastern Conference
Personal information
Born	(1972-09-11) September 11, 1972 Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Listed height	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight	235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High school	Newport (Bellevue, Washington)
College	Washington (1991–1993) Kentucky (1994–1996)
NBA draft	1996: 2nd round, 52nd overall pick
Selected by the Indiana Pacers
Playing career	1997–2005
Position	Power forward / small forward
Number	43, 41
Coaching career	2009–present
Career history
As player:
1996–1997	Anadolu Efes S.K.
1997–1999	Indiana Pacers
1999	La Crosse Bobcats
1999–2000	Ülkerspor
2000–2002	Milwaukee Bucks
2002–2003	New York Knicks
2003–2005	Denver Nuggets
As coach:
2009–2010	Georgia (assistant)
2010–2011	Wake Forest (assistant)
2011–2015	BYU (assistant)
2015–2019	Utah Valley
2019–2024	BYU
2024–present	Kentucky
Career highlights and awards
NCAA champion (1996) Pac-10 Freshman of the Year (1992)
Career statistics
Points	285 (1.9 ppg)
Assists	63 (0.4 apg)
Rebound	161 (1.7 rpg)
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com

Mark Edward Pope (born September 11, 1972) is an American college basketball coach who is the head coach at the University of Kentucky, his alma mater. After a stint at the University of Washington, where he was the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, he transferred to Kentucky, where he was part of the Wildcats' 1996 NCAA championship team. He later played professionally in the NBA for the Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Denver Nuggets.

Playing career

Pope played at Newport High School in Bellevue, Washington. In college, he played two years for the Washington Huskies, and earned Pac-10 Freshman of the Year honors in 1992 after setting a freshman single-season school record with 8.1 rebounds per game. After two seasons with the Huskies, Pope transferred to the Kentucky Wildcats. After sitting out the 1993–94 season due to NCAA transfer rules, Pope appeared in every game for the Wildcats over the next two seasons, winning two SEC championships. Pope was also a team captain on the 1995–96 Wildcats team that won an NCAA championship, averaging 7.6 points in 20.3 minutes per game.

Following his college career, Pope was a second-round pick for the Indiana Pacers in the 1996 NBA draft. Pope played six seasons in the NBA for the Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Denver Nuggets. His playing career ended in 2005.

Coaching career

In 2006, Pope enrolled in medical school at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. In 2009, he left medical school and joined Mark Fox's coaching staff at the University of Georgia as director of basketball operations for the 2009–10 season. Fox was an assistant coach when both were at Washington.

The following season (2010–11), Pope moved to Wake Forest to serve as an assistant under Jeff Bzdelik.

From 2011 to 2015, Pope was an assistant under Dave Rose at BYU. In four years, Pope helped the Cougars to four straight 20-win seasons and four straight postseason appearances, including three NCAA Tournament bids and a trip to the semifinals of the 2013 NIT.

Mark Pope's transformative tenure at Utah Valley University marked his first head coaching role, where he significantly elevated the basketball program's profile and success. Pope significantly transformed the basketball program, achieving a 77-56 record, making the nation's largest three-year jump in the KenPom.com rankings, and recording historic wins, including UVU's first victories over Fresno State and BYU. Under his leadership, UVU reached new heights with record attendance figures, a 22-game home winning streak, and three consecutive appearances in the College Basketball Invitational. Pope also oversaw player and academic excellence, with UVU athletes receiving numerous WAC honors and academic awards. His innovative public relations efforts and the construction of the NUVI Basketball Facility further revitalized the program, establishing a strong foundation for its future success.

Pope was appointed as BYU's 19th men's basketball head coach on April 10, 2019, following Dave Rose's retirement. In his inaugural season, Pope led BYU to a 24-8 record, the most wins ever by a first-year coach at the program, and finished the season ranked in the AP Poll—a first for a debut BYU coach. The Cougars achieved a 13-3 record in the West Coast Conference, tying their record for most wins in the WCC, highlighted by a historic victory over No. 2 Gonzaga. BYU's offense was among the nation's most efficient, topping several statistical categories, and three players received All-WCC First Team honors. Despite their success and a projected NCAA Tournament bid, the season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic. Pope's subsequent seasons included reaching the NCAA Tournament and recording his fastest 60 wins at BYU. By July 1, 2023, he was leading BYU into its first season in the Big 12 Conference, marking a new chapter for the program under his stewardship.

Utah Valley University (2015–2019)

During his tenure at Utah Valley University, Pope made significant contributions that elevated the program across multiple dimensions. Under his guidance, UVU amassed a commendable 77-56 overall record, including a 33-24 mark in Western Athletic Conference (WAC) play. His strategic insight was instrumental in helping the team achieve the largest three-year improvement in the KenPom.com rankings of any team in the nation, catapulting from No. 343 during the 2015-16 season to No. 91 by the end of the 2017-18 season.

Pope's leadership was pivotal in setting several new benchmarks for the program. Notably, the 2018-19 season saw UVU achieving its then best non-league record in school history with an 11-4 outcome. Additionally, his coaching prowess led to a 22-game home winning streak, ranking as the second-longest nationally at that time. Under his direction, UVU recorded historic victories, including their first-ever wins against crosstown rival BYU, its first-ever win against a Mountain West Conference opponent in Fresno State, and a notable comeback road win over Denver, where they overturned a 27-point deficit—one of the largest comebacks in NCAA history. He led Utah Valley to the WAC Tournament semifinals three in three consecutive seasons.

Pope’s tenure was also marked by consistent postseason achievements, with his teams making three consecutive appearances in the College Basketball Invitational, during which they secured the program’s first-ever national postseason tournament wins. This period also saw significant player development milestones, such as the emergence of UVU's first WAC Player of the Year (Jake Toolson) and Freshman of the Year (Wyatt Lowell).

Academically, Pope's commitment to excellence was evident as his teams received the National Association of Basketball Coaches Team Academic Excellence Award for four consecutive years, with many players earning Academic All-WAC honors. There was also a notable increase in game attendance under his watch, setting school records in total attendance and average per-game attendance during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons.

Beyond sports, Pope's innovative public relations strategies and commitment to challenging scheduling practices, including arranging back-to-back games against top-ranked Kentucky and Duke in a 24-hour period (#Toughest24), significantly raised the program's profile. His efforts also extended to facilities development, notably spearheading the fundraising and construction of UVU’s basketball practice facility, further enhancing the program's capabilities and appeal.

Pope's era at UVU was marked by groundbreaking success in competitive performance, player development, academic achievement, fan engagement, and facilities enhancement, leaving a lasting impact on the program.

Pope's leadership at Utah Valley transformed and revitalized the basketball program, setting new standards of success and ambition. His tenure not only improved the team's competitive performance but also fostered a culture of excellence that permeated all aspects of the program. From achieving record-breaking attendance numbers to developing players who excelled both on the court and academically, Pope’s influence was profound.

His innovative approach to scheduling helped put UVU basketball on the national map, challenging players with high-profile games and engaging fans with unique events. The construction of the NUVI Basketball Facility under his watch provided a state-of-the-art training environment, further enhancing the program's attractiveness to top recruits and bolstering its growth.

Pope's visionary leadership and commitment to excellence transformed Utah Valley University basketball, leaving a robust and dynamic legacy that continues to influence the program's trajectory today. His tenure not only reshaped UVU basketball but also set a foundational model for future success, ensuring the program's sustained prominence and vitality in collegiate basketball.

BYU (2019–2024)

On April 10, 2019, Pope was hired to replace Dave Rose as BYU's 19th men's basketball head coach, after Rose's retirement.

In his first season, Pope led the Cougars to a 24-8 record, the most wins for a first-year coach in program history. He became just the second first-year BYU coach to lead his team into the top 25 and the first to end his debut season ranked. The Cougars entered the top 25 as No. 23 in the AP Poll on Feb. 17 and jumped to as high as No. 14.

In league play, Pope guided the Cougars to a record of 13-3, second in the West Coast Conference (WCC). The 13 wins – which included a 91-78 victory over No. 2 Gonzaga in the Marriott Center – were a tie for the most by BYU during their time in the WCC. Gonzaga was the highest-ranked team BYU has defeated in the history of the Marriott Center. The Cougars finished the regular season on a nine-game win streak, the team's longest win streak in WCC play.

BYU boasted one of the most efficient offenses in the nation in 2019-20, evidenced by top 5 national rankings in several statistical categories. The Cougars finished the season ranked No. 1 in 3-point field goal percentage, No. 2 in assist/turnover ratio, No. 3 in field goal percentage, No. 4 in 3-point field goals per game and No. 5 in assists per game. In addition to the national rankings, BYU set program records for 3-point field goals in a single-game, 3-point field goals in a single season and 3-point field goals per game for a season.

In addition to the team success, three players earned All-WCC First Team honors in Yoeli Childs, T.J. Haws, and Jake Toolson. Childs also earned first-team All-District honors from the USBWA and NABC and was a Senior CLASS Award second-team All-American. Haws earned a spot on the CoSIDA Academic All-America Third Team and Toolson was named the WCC Newcomer of the Year.

The team was projected to be a lock for an at-large bid for the NCAA Tournament, which would have been their first berth since 2015. However, the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the tournament and prematurely ended the successful season. BYU ended the season at No. 18 in the AP Poll and No. 16 in the USA Today Coaches Poll.

Pope's early success with the Cougars continued in 2020-21. BYU finished 10-3 in WCC play. The team reached the finals of the WCC Tournament, losing to Gonzaga, 88-78, in the championship. The team received an at-large bid for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015. They were defeated in the first round by UCLA, 73-62.

On January 20, 2022, BYU defeated San Diego 79-71, which marked Pope's 60th career win at BYU and made him the fastest BYU head coach ever to reach that benchmark. The win also gave the Cougars a 16-4 record for the season, which was Pope's best start through 20 games as head coach.

Pope and the Cougars went 24–11 in 2021–22, but only 9–6 in WCC play. They were defeated in the third round of the WCC Tournament, and received an at-large bid to the NIT. The Cougars advanced to the quarterfinals, where they were defeated by Washington State.

During 2022–23, BYU failed to reach 20 wins for the first time in Pope's tenure as head coach, going 19–15 overall and 7–9 in-conference for the Cougars' final season as a member of the WCC. The Cougars failed to reach the postseason for the first time since 2019.

On July 1, 2023, BYU became a member of the Big 12 Conference, with Pope coaching the Cougars in their first-ever season as part of a major conference in 2023–24.

Kentucky (2024-present)

On April 12, 2024, Pope was named the head coach at Kentucky.

Personal life

Pope and his wife, Lee Anne, a former assistant to talk show host David Letterman, have four daughters. Lee Anne is the daughter of the late Lynn Archibald, who was the head basketball coach at the University of Utah from 1983 to 1989 and was an assistant at BYU in the 1990s. Pope is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Career statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field goal percentage	3P%	3-point field goal percentage	FT%	Free throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game	Bold	Career high

NBA

Source

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
1997–98	Indiana	28	0	6.9	.341	.333	.588	.9	.3	.1	.2	1.4
1998–99	Indiana	4	0	6.5	.143	.000	.000	1.0	.0	.0	.0	.5
2000–01	Milwaukee	63	45	15.0	.437	.208	.629	2.3	.6	.3	.4	2.4
2001–02	Milwaukee	45	12	9.5	.396	.160	.524	1.6	.4	.2	.2	1.9
2003–04	Denver	4	0	5.0	.500	–	.000	.8	.0	.1	.0	.5
2004–05	Denver	9	0	3.0	.333	–	–	.9	.1	.1	.2	.4
Career		153	57	10.7	.401	.179	.573	1.7	.4	.2	.3	1.9

Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
1998	Indiana	7	0	6.0	.667	.000	1.000	.7	.1	.1	.0	1.3
2001	Milwaukee	6	3	7.7	.500	.000	–	2.0	.3	.3	.0	1.7
Career		13	3	6.8	.563	.000	1.000	1.3	.2	.2	.0	1.5

Head coaching record

Statistics overview

Season	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Postseason
Utah Valley Wolverines (Western Athletic Conference) (2015–2019)
2015–16	Utah Valley	12–18	6–8	5th
2016–17	Utah Valley	17–17	6–8	5th	CBI Semifinals
2017–18	Utah Valley	23–11	10–4	2nd	CBI Quarterfinals
2018–19	Utah Valley	25–10	12–4	2nd	CBI Quarterfinals
Utah Valley:		77–56 (.579)	34–24 (.586)
BYU Cougars (West Coast Conference) (2019–2023)
2019–20	BYU	24–8	13–3	2nd	Postseason not held
2020–21	BYU	20–7	10–3	2nd	NCAA Division I Round of 64
2021–22	BYU	24–11	9–6	5th	NIT Quarterfinals
2022–23	BYU	19–15	7–9	T–5th
BYU Cougars (Big 12 Conference) (2023–2024)
2023–24	BYU	23–11	10–8	T–5th	NCAA Division I Round of 64
BYU:		110–52 (.679)	49–29 (.628)
Kentucky Wildcats (Southeastern Conference) (2024–present)
2024–25	Kentucky	0–0	0–0
Kentucky:		0–0 (–)	0–0 (–)
Total:		187–108 (.634)
National champion         Postseason invitational champion         Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion       Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion       Conference tournament champion

External links

• Mark Pope Official BYU Bio
• Career statistics and player information from NBA.com  and Basketball-Reference.com