Mark Pope has completed two seasons as the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats. However, there have been questions regarding his job security following their second-round exit during last season’s NCAA Tournament.
Despite all the doubts, Pope will be returning for Year 3 in Lexington. However, if he fails to deliver according to expectations, Kentucky might decide to move on from him in search of a suitable replacement.
On Tuesday, NCAA reporter Evan Sidery shared a report about Pope’s future with the Kentucky Wildcats. According to him, there is a possibility that former Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan might replace him next year.
“Many executives believe Billy Donovan will now take a year off from coaching, potentially angling for a return to college at a blue blood program,” Sidery tweeted.
“After passing on North Carolina, there’s buzz suggesting Donovan would be very intrigued by Kentucky as a top landing spot in 2027.”
Donovan was named as the coach of the Chicago Bulls in 2020. In six years, they made the playoffs just once during the 2021-22 season when they lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round.
In July 2025, the Bulls had agreed to a multi-year extension with Donovan. However, he stepped down as the coach back in April after putting up a 226-256 overall record with the team. Previously, the North Carolina Tar Heels scouted him as Hubert Davis’ replacement. However, he declined the offer, which resulted in UNC signing Michael Malone.
Mark Pope shares his thoughts on new Kentucky AD J Batt
Kentucky brought in former Michigan State athletic director J Batt as their new AD. This decision was taken after former AD Mitch Barnhart announced his retirement after 24 years in this position.
On Monday, Mark Pope shared a post on social media after meeting with Batt for the first time on campus.
“Had first meeting with J and the UK head coaches today,” Pope said. “He is going to do great things here. So happy to welcome his whole family to UK. This is gonna be fun. Let’s go Cats!”
Batt is known for his fundraising skills during his stint with Georgia Tech and Michigan State. He is expected to help the Kentucky Wildcats see an increase in revenue and bolster their NIL.
Read More: “Destination Job”: Amid Regular Job Shifts, Kentucky AD J Batt Discusses How Long He Plans to Stay
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