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.
Pope will be returning to Lexington for Year 3. However, if he fails to meet 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, former Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan might replace Pope in the future.
“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 the coach of the Chicago Bulls in 2020. In six years, they made the playoffs just once (2021-22), losing to the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round.
In July 2025, the Bulls agreed to a multi-year extension with Donovan. However, he stepped down as coach in April after posting a 226-256 record with the team. Previously, the North Carolina Tar Heels scouted him as Hubert Davis’ replacement. However, he declined the offer, leading UNC to sign Michael Malone.
Mark Pope shares his thoughts on new Kentucky AD J Batt
Kentucky brought in former Michigan State athletic director J Batt as its new AD after Mitch Barnhart announced his retirement after 24 years.
On Monday, Mark Pope shared a post on social media about his first meeting with Batt 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 became known for his fundraising skills during his stints with Georgia Tech and Michigan State. He is expected to help the Kentucky Wildcats increase 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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