In hindsight it's crazy how bad Mitch botched the last coaching search

[kydmb99]

Regardless of what you think about Pope, look at the ineptitude of that search:

1) First target was Scott Drew who has been a total disaster the last 2 years. Rejection made UK look bad.
2) Then went to Danny Hurley coming off 2 national titles. Was obviously going to say no to anyone. Again, made UK look bad.
3) Couldn't wait a few extra days to speak to Donovan though there appeared to be some interest based on reports at the time.
3) Refusal to look at other, more qualified candidates such as Oats, Pearl, May, Lloyd, etc..
4) Hired Mark Pope THREE DAYS after Cal left.
5) Absolutely no creativity or imagination whatsoever in the candidate search.

Just complete and total ineptitude that has only become more clear over time.

 

[Zuma75]

Even at the time it was horrifyingly bad!

 

[Kantucke_rivals]

We're about to watch how a real blue blood coaching search goes down in the 21st century.

 

[Gilead12]

Yes. The media coverage of unc has made it clear that this was a shocking dereliction. No one is even entertaining the idea that UNC should look for an up and comer with little or no tournament wins/experience, and/or look to alumni to hire in the family. I have no idea exactly why we rushed it, but it was and is unacceptable. Swim team scandal, Pitino call, turned down a couple times, etc means nothing—unacceptable failure to do your most basic job duties.

 

[Zuma75]

We're about to watch how a real blue blood coaching search goes down

Probably ... although UNC arguably is even worse - they hired a Pope not once but twice!!!

Unfortunately, they've probably learned their lesson and will hit a grand slam this time around.

 

[MarvinHagler89]

He’s botched almost every search he’s been directly involved in. Billy G, Joker, Stoops(not horrible but not the best), Pope. He was not involved with Cal and had very little influence on Stein. His contract extensions are even worse. Stoops and Cals contracts were the most BS thing he’s ever done.

 

[jedwar]

Weakness starts at the top. If we had a stronger president then either the search would have been different or Mitch would have been shown the door for it or the other crazy things he did. UK needs a house cleaning.

 

[MegaBlue05]

He did what anyone on the way out at any job does - the bare minimum.

Mitch asked his good buddy. Got turned down.

Half-assed pursued the hottest name in the game. Got turned down.

Hired an unqualified candidate with ties to the program who was a definite yes.

 

[TFCat11]

I’ve been saying, and will continue to say, Mitch hiring Pope was a middle finger to BBN for criticizing his leadership and decision making over the years!

He was always going to put almost zero effort into replacing Calipari, and that’s exactly what happened. Now our direct Blue Blood rivals are about to set themselves up for years to come, while woke UK and its vocal minority, get their participation trophy wish, and bring back Pope for what’s setting up to be the most disastrous season since Sutton left, and I’m not counting the “Covid” season because of the historical outliers involved.

 

[Kantucke_rivals]

Weakness starts at the top. If we had a stronger president then either the search would have been different or Mitch would have been shown the door for it or the other crazy things he did. UK needs a house cleaning.

agree, I believe the entire administration is filled with Elis/Barnhardt's people. The fact that the Golden Parachute is still a thing seems to confirm this suspicion. Eli C should also step down, a clean state would go a long way.

 

[Zuma75]

Weakness starts at the top. If we had a stronger president then either the search would have been different or Mitch would have been shown the door for it or the other crazy things he did. UK needs a house cleaningAbsoutely. It's systemic, at the highest levels.

Absolutely - it's systemic neglect and not giving a ****, at the highest levels of UK.

 

[Smeegs]

You don’t even need hindsight. It was pretty clear from the start that Mitch botched it.

What’s happening now is exactly what everyone thought would happen on the day the Pope hire was first announced two years ago. We later tried to convince ourselves that it was a good hire purely out of wishful thinking and false hope. But it turns out our first instincts were correct.

 

[Pygmy Sasquatch]

I was stunned when Pope was announced as the new coach. Stunned and dismayed. However, I bought the dog and pony show press conference and bought the entire bill of goods. Now I'm back to being dismayed. Mitch absolutely screwed the pooch.

 

[legalbeagle123]

Barnhart is the worst P5 AD in the country.

 

[peterpiper09]

How many different ways and word salad combinations can people possibly come up with?

 

[rick64]

Mitch panicked and took the easy hire. He was afraid it was going to be like the Billy G hire where several top coaches said thanks but no thanks. He was afraid to go through that again, so he went with Pope.

 

[OliverSimmonsTwinBrother]

I was stunned when Pope was announced as the new coach. Stunned and dismayed. However, I bought the dog and pony show press conference and bought the entire bill of goods. Now I'm back to being dismayed. Mitch absolutely screwed the pooch.

That presser was Mitch shaking his keys at us to get us to stop crying. The crazy thing is it worked, at least for a while

 

[Snarks]

Mitch panicked and took the easy hire. He was afraid it was going to be like the Billy G hire where several top coaches said thanks but no thanks. He was afraid to go through that again, so he went with Pope.

Who cares if people say no. Pope should have been about #30 on the list.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

There was no search

Maybe he checked to see if Lee Rose was still alive?

IYKYK

 

[loublue22_rivals308424]

Cal was circling the drain for years and Mitch had no plan other than Drew, then he got shot down by the wife. His whole job is to look after the crown jewel, and he failed at every level, while also handicapping the football program in his spare time. Staggering incompetence, no accountability.

 

[Ukwazoo3]

I'm ok with him throwing bags of money at Hurley. Also ok with him not waiting on Donovan. The rest of his "search" was incredibly lazy. With how lazy he is, I have to imagine he botched the pitch with Hurley anyway.

 

[Dr.LutherSan]

I’ve been saying, and will continue to say, Mitch hiring Pope was a middle finger to BBN for criticizing his leadership and decision making over the years!

He was always going to put almost zero effort into replacing Calipari, and that’s exactly what happened. Now our direct Blue Blood rivals are about to set themselves up for years to come, while woke UK and its vocal minority, get their participation trophy wish, and bring back Pope for what’s setting up to be the most disastrous season since Sutton left, and I’m not counting the “Covid” season because of the historical outliers involved.

What was "woke" about it?

 

[KyWideWes]

I give Mitch credit for never letting failures decrease his arrogance.

 

[ukalum1988]

I was stunned when Pope was announced as the new coach. Stunned and dismayed. However, I bought the dog and pony show press conference and bought the entire bill of goods. Now I'm back to being dismayed. Mitch absolutely screwed the pooch.

You certainly weren't the only one with that "WTF" reaction, and you weren't the only to be suckered in with 96 team getting off the bus inside Rupp Arena at the introductory press conference. I'm part of that club as well.

 

[tjhunter]

We're about to watch how a real blue blood coaching search goes down in the 21st century.

I agree! The big thing is will guys like , Hurley, Dusty may,Tommy loyd, Golden,Oats, ect leave. Oats would make the most sense to me!

If not then you drop to the next level. And even then there were better more sure candidates then Pope.
Having said that I would ask people to be respectful toward our coach and players! You can voice frustration and needing change, without the absolute poison toxic hate filled rants I have witnessed in the past few months. Barnhart needs to get a lot of emails letters ect. And if those are nothing but nasty they will not matter! But if you respectfully give cause and reason along with a demand for change, you will make a much bigger impact then acting hateful and nasty ect!

 

[KyWideWes]

Hiring coaches is also recruiting. Does anything think Mitch in his sweater vest and khakis and goober buzzword generation is going to sway alphas like Hurley? The guy is as easy to say no to as Pope is.

 

[Kantucke_rivals]

I agree! The big thing is will guys like , Hurley, Dusty may,Tommy loyd, Golden,Oats, ect leave. Oats would make the most sense to me!

If not then you drop to the next level. And even then there were better more sure candidates then Pope.
Having said that I would ask people to be respectful toward our coach and players! You can voice frustration and needing change, without the absolute poison toxic hate filled rants I have witnessed in the past few months. Barnhart needs to get a lot of emails letters ect. And if those are nothing but nasty they will not matter! But if you respectfully give cause and reason along with a demand for change, you will make a much bigger impact then acting hateful and nasty ect!

I have never been toxic towards players and never will. If players aren't performing that's on the coaching staff not the players. That's a red line that should never be crossed by anyone.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

Regardless of what you think about Pope, look at the ineptitude of that search:

1) First target was Scott Drew who has been a total disaster the last 2 years. Rejection made UK look bad.
2) Then went to Danny Hurley coming off 2 national titles. Was obviously going to say no to anyone. Again, made UK look bad.
3) Couldn't wait a few extra days to speak to Donovan though there appeared to be some interest based on reports at the time.
3) Refusal to look at other, more qualified candidates such as Oats, Pearl, May, Lloyd, etc..
4) Hired Mark Pope THREE DAYS after Cal left.
5) Absolutely no creativity or imagination whatsoever in the candidate search.

Just complete and total ineptitude that has only become more clear over time.

I just read that Billy D said no to UNC but wants to wait for other opportunities in college basketball so maybe we could get him.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

He’s botched almost every search he’s been directly involved in. Billy G, Joker, Stoops(not horrible but not the best), Pope. He was not involved with Cal and had very little influence on Stein. His contract extensions are even worse. Stoops and Cals contracts were the most BS thing he’s ever done.

Besides the JMi deal lmfao. What BS.

 

[Bugs092056]

I just read that Billy D said no to UNC but wants to wait for other opportunities in college basketball so maybe we could get him.

Lol how many times are we gonna pine for Billy D? It would have already happened by now if it was meant to be.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

Lol how many times are we gonna pine for Billy D? It would have already happened by now if it was meant to be.

He’s a hell of a lot better than Pope. I know he can at least coach. Hire the right staff to show him the NIL ropes.

 

[Bugs092056]

He’s a hell of a lot better than Pope. I know he can at least coach. Hire the right staff to show him the NIL ropes.

Him being better than Pope isnt the matter at hand. We've went at him with no success. Whether thats a Barnhart thing I don't know

 

[Pygmy Sasquatch]

I just read that Billy D said no to UNC but wants to wait for other opportunities in college basketball so maybe we could get him.

Would be amazing if the stars could finally align

 

[BlueWorldOrder74]

Couple of things in play that led to Mark
- Mitch was lazy, period
- had to act quick with the swim team scandal
- needed a guy who would do whatever he asked
- didn’t care

 

[RunninRichie]

Couple of things in play that led to Mark
- Mitch was lazy, period
- had to act quick with the swim team scandal
- needed a guy who would do whatever he asked
- didn’t care

JP Blevins and Jeff Sheppard pushed for the hire hard also.

 

[Farsight Clone]

I just read that Billy D said no to UNC but wants to wait for other opportunities in college basketball so maybe we could get him.

Where did you read it or can you link it

 

[Farsight Clone]

JP Blevins and Jeff Sheppard pushed for the hire hard also.

I forgot about that. Also Marc Hill because of the LDS connection

 

[Pygmy Sasquatch]

I never considered the swim team scandal playing a part in Pope's (or a quick in general) hiring. It just didn't occur to me.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

Where did you read it or can you link it

It was on Twitter, you know how that goes though.

 

[SpamFilter]

Mark Pope was UK's Hubert Davis, both schools made the same mistake, UNC is just a couple of year earlier in their cycle.