Who should we hire next?

JimboBBN

Heisman
Jan 26, 2016
15,490
31,412
113
The thing is, and some of y’all gonna hate hearing this, the fanbase is so toxic no coach with a history of proven sustained success wants this job. It’s not worth the hassle.

We got incredibly lucky Cal wanted the gig badly in 2009. Our searches in 2007 and 2024 will be the norm moving forward. We’ll offer big names and they’ll all say no and we’ll move to hot up and comers (or mediocre alumni).
I don’t think I agree with this. I think it’s an easy narrative to run with (not you specifically, just in general)

I think it exists because we had such an awful AD prior to last summer who made 2 really bad hires of the last 3. UK offers a lot that most schools can’t in basketball. If you win, you’ll be fine. Kentucky fans don’t expect a title every year. But we definitely don’t expect to get down 20 points in every other game, which is what Pope does.
 
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WeWant9

Heisman
Dec 18, 2013
7,068
18,953
113
The thing is, and some of y’all gonna hate hearing this, the fanbase is so toxic no coach with a history of proven sustained success wants this job. It’s not worth the hassle.

We got incredibly lucky Cal wanted the gig badly in 2009. Our searches in 2007 and 2024 will be the norm moving forward. We’ll offer big names and they’ll all say no and we’ll move to hot up and comers (or mediocre alumni).
Honestly, the overall fan culture is going down the drain. People here want to act like it's just UK, but it's widespread. Duke fans were going crazy at one of the Boozers last NCAAT. OSU football players have been openly talking about fans messaging them crazy stuff. The Nebraska football coach basically threaten to quit because a fan approached his daughter to tell her how much her dad sucks as a coach. I just read an article about an NHL goalie coming off the ice in tears because his home crowd was booing and heckling him. NBA players seem to be constantly going back and forth with fans in the front rows.
 

The Ganner

All-Conference
Nov 21, 2009
491
1,350
93
Schertz is on a lot of people's lists for good reason but two other names I'd add are Ben McCollum and Grant McCasland.

McCollum won four D2 championships, then one year at Drake he took over a team that had just made the tournament, he went 31-4 making 2nd round of NCAAs, then in first year at Iowa who was coming off a 1 game over .500 season made an elite 8.

McCasland won a juco championship with another runner up, made two D2 elite 8s, at North Texas made an NCAA second round and won an NIT championship, has made an elite 8 at Texas Tech and has them ranked 16 currently.
 

Get_over_it

Senior
Sep 23, 2026
270
430
63
You’d keep Pope over a guy with 2 elite 8s and a final four. On top of 4 SEC titles?
Why trade Pope for a guy that in 12 years of coaching has lost 10 games or more 6 times, has lost 14 games or more in 4 years out of 12, and has a 69% winning percentage? Would BBN be happy with 2 Elite 8s and 1 FF4 in 12 years? I am not saying Pope is better, but why take the financial hit from firing him to replace him with a guy like that?
 
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Anon726530

Sophomore
Mar 29, 2026
52
150
33
There is truth that established coaches are probably “ happy “ where they are, and they will not choose career over family life like Dusty May Louisville or Drew Kentucky Donovan Kentucky.

But, the world has a far greater number of emotionally unstable coaches and everyday people who think fanbase toxicity is loser talk. Bobby Knight, Pitino, Billy Gillespie, Hurley all dream about a virtually unlimited budget for player NIL and a good general manager but no matter how much they win they still will almost never be happy.

Young coaches that completely dominated division II like Schertz, McCollum, McCasland are all excellent starting points. I think a very successful Bruce Pearl has a ton of similarities to Calipari that he has been outspoken that he wants the job and to prove that he can do it for a Kentucky just like he did at an Auburn.
 

theKybluedude

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2025
988
2,229
93
Not seeing any inspiring candidates. Pearl Oats Donovan … really?

Cal was an inspiring hire. Pitino was. Find a guy with their similar qualities. Throw in a few of Rupp’s signature traits.

What would you say are similar characteristics of those 3 besides arrogance, sarcasm, energy, confidence, competitiveness, toughness, bball iq,
 
Oct 13, 2025
327
542
93
No you wouldn't. Did you stop watching when we hired Cal? Exactly. I get it, he's not a saint. This also isn't Church League either.
Cal didn't knowingly play an accessory to murder. And yes, I have at least enough of a moral compass to actually care about that and not support Oats. Cal was known for being arrogant, and maybe skirting the rules. Oats allowed a guy that just brought a gun to a murderer and then mocked the death by making a gun with his hand the very next game to continue to be part of the team. I honestly don't know how anyone would be okay with that, or in this case, to actually want to root the guy.
 

thebluestrypes

Redshirt
Aug 27, 2026
8
10
1
Bring back pitino. The headlines would read, The return to camelot... The ol' bird could retire here while revitalizing the program a second time making for a storybook ending.
 
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RunninRichie

Heisman
Sep 5, 2019
30,283
73,230
113
Why trade Pope for a guy that in 12 years of coaching has lost 10 games or more 6 times, has lost 14 games or more in 4 years out of 12, and has a 69% winning percentage? Would BBN be happy with 2 Elite 8s and 1 FF4 in 12 years? I am not saying Pope is better, but why take the financial hit from firing him to replace him with a guy like that?
Dude, he was at Buffalo.
 

wildcatdon

Heisman
Oct 17, 2012
10,672
13,703
113
????? Are you watching what we currently have? And you don’t want Jai because he’s somewhat young.
I am watching what we have and Lucas has done nothing to show he can handle a job of this magnitude. He is very young and unproven.
 
Mar 13, 2026
902
764
93
people will try to clown you but he’d absolutely kill it here. He’s a literal basketball genius and he doesn’t take ish off anybody.
Rondo’s son wont play for mark pope. Rondo will bring his son with him! He’s going to be a great player.
 

KyWilson239

Senior
Jan 17, 2016
246
539
93
Start with a calls to Brad Underwood and Nate Oats. If those 2 say no, in order: Josh Schertz, Mark Byington, Jai Lucas. If it gets past that, its bad.
 

UKgrad22

All-Conference
Apr 9, 2026
912
2,448
93
Rondo, keep Mo for player development and recruiting, let everyone else walk. Start your staff with 2 respected NBA champs, would just have to go with the growing pains
 
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