Sources: Kentucky targeting BYU's Pope as coach

According to multiple reports from reputable sports news outlets, including ESPN, Brandon "Mark" Pope, the current head coach of Brigham Young University (BYU) men's basketball team, is a leading candidate for the vacant coaching position at the University of Kentucky (UK). The news was first reported by Jeff Goodman and Myron Medcalf of ESPN on March 22, 2023.

Pope, a native of Salt Lake City, Utah, has been the head coach at BYU since April 2019. He took over after his mentor and former boss, Dave Rose, retired after 13 seasons with the Cougars. Prior to joining BYU, Pope spent 11 years at Nevada, where he served various roles including assistant coach and associate head coach under Eric Musselman.

Under Pope's leadership, BYU has enjoyed a successful run in the West Coast Conference (WCC). In his third season at the helm, the Cougars finished with a 24-9 record and reached the semifinals of the NIT tournament. This season (2022-2023), they are currently 23-8 and ranked No. 23 in the latest AP Top 25 poll.

The interest from Kentucky comes after John Calipari, who has been the Wildcats' head coach since 2009, announced his intention to step down at the end of the season. Calipari led Kentucky to eight SEC regular-season titles and seven SEC tournament championships during his tenure.

Kentucky, a perennial powerhouse in college basketball, has a rich tradition and a passionate fanbase. The Wildcats have won eight national championships and have produced numerous NBA stars such as Anthony Davis, John Wall, and DeMarcus Cousins.

The potential move to UK would represent a significant step up for Pope in terms of both prestige and competition level. However, it remains to be seen whether he will accept the offer and leave BYU. The Cougars are currently in the thick of things in the WCC tournament and could potentially earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The hiring process at Kentucky is ongoing, and no official announcement has been made regarding Pope or any other candidates. The Wildcats are expected to conduct a thorough search to find Calipari's successor.

In conclusion, Mark Pope, the current head coach of BYU men's basketball team, is a leading candidate for the vacant coaching position at the University of Kentucky. The news was first reported by ESPN and has since been corroborated by other reputable sources. The potential move would represent a significant step up for Pope in terms of prestige and competition level. The hiring process at Kentucky is ongoing, and no official announcement has been made regarding Pope or any other candidates.