Mark Pope is an American college basketball coach who has been announced as the new head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats in 2024. He served as the head coach at BYU for the last five seasons. Pope's coaching journey began in Georgia when he left his medical school to join the University of Georgia as the director of basketball operations. The following year, he moved to Wake Forest where he worked as an assistant coach under Jeff Bzdelik.
Pope's career took a notable turn when he joined BYU as an assistant coach under Dave Rose in 2011. For the next four years, he led the program to four successive 20-win seasons and three NCAA tournament appearances. Pope earned his first head coaching role at Utah Valley where he spent four years from 2015-2019. During his tenure, he led the Wolverines to a record of 77-56 and three straight bids to the College Basketball Invitational.
After four seasons he transferred to BYU where he would go on to spend the next five years of his coaching career. Pope held a record of 110-52 and led the program to two NCAA tournament appearances. The nine-year head coaching veteran who amassed a 187-108 career record joined Kentucky to replace John Calipari as the program’s next head coach.
Who are Mark Pope’s Parents?
Don Pope and Linda Pope are the parents of Mark Pope. Details of their personal and professional lives are unavailable in the public domain.
Who are Mark Pope's Siblings?
Mark Pope has five three elder brothers but information about them is undisclosed in the public domain.
Who is Mark Pope Wife?
Mark Pope's family also includes his wife, Lee Anne with whom he lives in Lexington, Kentucky. Pope met Melissa through her brother Damon Archibald. Lee Anne worked as David Letterman’s personal assistant in New York for four years. The couple got married in August 1999 and are parents to four daughters. Her father, Lynn Archibald was a college basketball coach at Idaho State, Utah, and BYU. Lee Anne graduated with a degree in journalism from BYU.
Does Mark Pope have Kids?
Mark Pope and his wife, Lee Anne, are blessed with four daughters, Ella, Avery, Layla, and Shay. The eldest, Ella Pope plays as a forward for the Ohio Bobcats whereas Avery Pope plays tennis at BYU. Layla Pope is a professional dancer whereas the youngest Shay Pope plays volleyball for Lexington Catholic.
FAQs on Mark Pope
A. Mark Pope's parents are Don Pope and Linda Pope.
A. Mark Pope has three brothers.
A. Mark Pope's wife is Lee Anne.
A. Yes, Mark Pope and his wife, Lee Anne, have four daughters named Ella, Avery, Layla and Shay.
A. Mark Pope became the head coach at Kentucky on April 12, 2024, marking a new chapter in his coaching career.
A. Mark Pope will get paid nearly $5.5 million a year, making him the six highest-paid coach in college basketball.
