In a recent development, former Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball head coach and current Arkansas coach, John Calipari, publicly endorsed Mark Pope’s appointment as Kentucky’s head coach.
Calipari, who led Kentucky to the 2012 national championship during his 15-year tenure, expressed his support during the Southeastern Conference media day. He stated, “I think they hired a perfect guy for that job. He played there, graduated from there. Has a heart for the place. I’ll be rooting for them. I want them to do well, except that date (Feb. 1).”
Mark Pope, a former Kentucky player and captain of the 1996 national championship team, reciprocated the goodwill. He praised Calipari’s contributions to the program, acknowledging him as a Hall of Fame coach and expressing gratitude for his mentorship. Pope remarked, “You’ll never hear me say a negative word about Coach Cal, because there’s not a lot to say. He’s a Hall of Fame coach. As a diehard Kentucky fan and alumnus and former player, I’m grateful for everything, all the incredible things that Cal accomplished at the University of Kentucky.”
This mutual respect highlights the strong bond between the two coaches, underscoring their shared commitment to the legacy and future success of Kentucky basketball.
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