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Assistant coach rumor news

kfwa

kfwa

Senior
Oct 12, 2014
402
743
93
I've been beating the drum since the start of the season about Mark Fox needing to leave.

Quit hiring friends and failed coaches to lead your team. It really quite simple.

Bring in someone that is either a tireless recruiter or specializes in player development. Don't ever, ever bring in the guy that delegated that off to someone else and was fired for it.
 
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Tim0808

All-Conference
Apr 4, 2013
695
1,118
93
BassProCat said:
If I had to pick one it would definitely be Mark Fox.
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If I had to pick a Coach to go, it would be Mark Pope. He is in charge and it does not matter who the assistants are, because they will follow the leader. If Pope demands success, the assistants will produce. If everything is always massively incredible, then everyone will enjoy the free ride.
 
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FatCatMan

All-Conference
Feb 19, 2026
1,355
3,222
113
kfwa said:
I've been beating the drum since the start of the season about Mark Fox needing to leave.

Quit hiring friends and failed coaches to lead your team. It really quite simple.

Bring in someone that is either a tireless recruiter or specializes in player development. Don't ever, ever bring in the guy that delegated that off to someone else and was fired for it.
Click to expand...
If guys like Hart and Brooks are leaving, I imagine they’ll be replaced with more of his BYU buddies.
 
Blue Jesus

Blue Jesus

Senior
Aug 24, 2013
389
543
93
I would like Pope to hire a "defensive coordinator" and turn that aspect of the game over to him. Maybe someone from the Chris Beard or TJ Otzelberger tree. Someone who teaches the players how to play physical without fouling (or without getting called for fouls, is maybe more accurate).
 
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peterpiper09

All-Conference
Mar 19, 2006
1,023
2,054
112
I believe Rondo would bring an element of fire to the situation. Great defensive guard coach, not to mention a hell of a player coming in a couple of years in his son
 
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ArcticChar

Junior
Mar 18, 2022
362
399
63
Based on whats not in the cupboard right now, best case is another 20-12 season, miss out on another double bye in sec, finish about the same as this year, possibly eke out two wins in the tourney and then lose. Declare the season a raging success based on how bare the cupboard was. Unfortunately, thats what I think is going to happen.
 
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Runnin'Ramel

Heisman
Jan 19, 2005
35,657
13,503
113
Well, let's see:

-Didn't sign a single recruit.
-Mark Fox was a mediocre at best coach at a team that never won a thing (GA).
-Team appeared to have no idea how to defend a pick n roll all season.
-Didn't see any UK players develop into better players other than Aberdeen.
-Came out sluggish, in a hole just about every game other than Iowa State (ironically) this season.

Get rid of all of them and start over with coaches who understand the game as it stands today.
 
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kfwa

kfwa

Senior
Oct 12, 2014
402
743
93
FatCatMan said:
If guys like Hart and Brooks are leaving, I imagine they’ll be replaced with more of his BYU buddies.
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its certainly possible, a coach has two options - insulate himself from the barbarians at the gate by surrounding himself with friends or admit he has to change and assemble coaches that will not only address his deficiencies but also challenge him when necessary.

The challenge is - what up and coming guy is going to come to UK if he thinks the coach is dead man walking in year 3?
 
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ComebackCats98

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2025
605
1,764
93
Does this ever work? Can’t believe already after year 2 we’ve reached that point. It’ll be about like Stoops getting a new offensive coordinator and WR coach every year.

Who is he going to hire? Some guy he talked to at BYU? Why would anyone want to come here knowing his seat is warm?
 
BigBluefoot

BigBluefoot

All-American
Jul 4, 2025
1,534
6,263
113
🤣 Rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic again, I see. Barnhart is so predictable.
Next they will throw a couple of non-returning players under the bus, call them "toxic" and claim it will be addition by subtraction. 'It will be different next year, swear!'
 
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Tim0808

All-Conference
Apr 4, 2013
695
1,118
93
Wildcat_in_DC said:
2 years ago we were all told how great this staff is. i think its fair to say the under performed but my guess is they are frustrated and concerned about their own coaching future. mark is making them look bad by not being able to land recruits. which is how you make your mark as an assistant.

i dont think a change will make much difference. unless a new assist coach brings a player with him. and i doubt pope will play that card/game.
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I remember Matt Jones saying these assistants were game changers... We just did not realize which way the game was changed.
 
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four_every_hour

Sophomore
Mar 13, 2026
52
134
32
Who was in charge of our defense? I heard it was Fox. Whoever it is needs to go bad! They seem to think it's a good idea to leave shooters to help on the other side of the floor.
 
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megablue

Heisman
Oct 2, 2012
15,515
15,551
113
BassProCat said:
Click to expand...

Is that rats leaving a sinking ship ??
If this is true, are they leaving on their own or being asked to leave ??
Either way, does that make coaching at Kentucky more, or less, attractive ??
Whatever the "brand" is ... it seems to be tarnishing.
 
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leadbellydetector

Redshirt
Mar 23, 2026
9
16
3
Anon1760284409 said:
mark fox, Cody fueger, Alvin brooks, Jason hart, mikhail McLean, nick robinson, Randy towner, Brandon wells, Matt Santoro, Brian Fitzpatrick, Jaylan green, Willis Mackey, Gabriel McKay, Ryan berry, Jt carmer, will Corbin, Megan summers, mark Evans, Linda carmack, Michael stone, Deb Moore, Greg welsh, Nathan Schwake, Craig hornberger, Ryan Duffy, Addison fieldhouse, Chet white, rob hosey, Scott mair and finally, mark pope leaving would be a good start.
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Which one of these people is leadbelly? I know he's on the payroll to belittle the fans.
 
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Eagles_Ball_69

All-American
Dec 19, 2003
3,740
5,050
82
Someone might have posted this already, but if not...here's something you need to think about it you think (insert top level assistant name here) is going to come work for Pope.

Forget Pope is a tool and is ridiculed in coaching circles.
Forget this is UK.
Forget the pay.

No assistant coach that is anything but desperate for a job is going to come and work for a guy they know is on the hot seat. It's essentially why Stoops had to hire Bush Hamdan as his OC. Again, the assistant coaches aren't the problem, but even if you believe they are the problem...we aren't getting good ones to replace the ones here.

Head. Of. The. Snake.
 
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TTTblue24

All-Conference
Feb 1, 2004
3,833
2,654
113
If true, what assistants are going to come here for potentially 1 year knowing he’s on the hot seat though?? Not saying these guys now are great, but I wonder if this is them looking around since the pope experiment isn’t working and looks bad on them as well.
 
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yoshukai

yoshukai

Heisman
Dec 21, 2002
29,648
41,891
102
peterpiper09 said:
I believe Rondo would bring an element of fire to the situation. Great defensive guard coach, not to mention a hell of a player coming in a couple of years in his son
Click to expand...
That would be in FOUR years . Can’t imagine that Pope will still be here then .
 
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AJG-15

All-Conference
Apr 8, 2024
1,899
3,247
78
This is such a Mitch move…..

First transpire to media changes are coming to give some hope to BBN….

asks the coach to shuffle assistant staff….

and if Mitch was here next year he would have a sit down in front of media with Pope assuring of his full support and if things went south than he will work behind his back to fire him…

I have seen this movie before….


until new AD is selected nothing major will happen since the Mitch will not want to be responsible of another coaching buyout that could jeopardizes his retirement gig.


the timing of his retirement was cowardly done … he realized hiring MP was an n expensive mistake….but he cannot come in front of Board of Trustees with another big buyout so him and the President come up with the retirement and post retirement gig…. While kicking the can down the road for the next AD to have to deal with MP , with JIM, with budget shortfalls….

this is typical corporate corruption : the ceo who’s decisions bankrupt the company is rewarded with a nice retirement gig, while the company shuts down or downsize or is buy out…..in UK case the taxpayers of the commonwealth will indirectly pick up the tab….

I think we are in a worst situation than probation years.
 
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Damage_inc

Senior
Oct 4, 2019
418
755
91
Either these guys see the writing on the wall and want to jump off the sinking ship, or pope really is that hard to work with.

I doubt stokes comes here if hart isn’t here. I was really only hoping fox would be gone.
 
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Drcatfan

All-Conference
Apr 14, 2015
1,401
1,581
61
What assistants will want to come work for Pope. The guy hand picks and fires all of his assistants after two seasons, oh and by the way if we don't succeed next year we are all fired.
 
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Catphright23

Senior
Dec 6, 2023
239
498
63
A bunch of goofy losers on the board talking **** behind a keyboard. You goof balls aren't helping our fan base looking any better. Talking about nerdy, goofy while you sitting behind a keyboard 500 pounds. They let the shittiest fans on here.
 
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