Rick Pitino and Mark Pope go way back. The former coached the latter to a national title at the University of Kentucky back in 1996.
They have remained close ever since!
Now, 27 years after cutting down the nets alongside the Wildcats’ former head coach, Pope is in his role. The 51-year-old was officially announced as the head basketball coach at Kentucky on Friday morning.
Pitino offered extremely high praise for his former player, who he guaranteed will “go on to greatness.”
— Rick Pitino (@RealPitino) April 12, 2024
His promise did not stop there.
Pitino joined local Lexington radio host Alan Cutler on Friday afternoon and vowed to write a personal check to the Wildcats’ Name, Image and Likeness fund if that is what it takes to ensure that they will win. It was perhaps the wildest thing that anyone has said in the modern NIL era of college sports.
“He’s ready for this,” Pitino said, referring to Pope. “He was the glue for ‘The Untouchables.’ He did everything the right way. If they need any more NIL money, I’ll write the check.”
This is unprecedented!
Pitino, who is the active head basketball coach at St. John’s University, vowed to give NIL money to Kentucky — a program that is not his direct competitor during the regular season, but could end up playing against him in the NCAA Tournament. And it goes even deeper.
Pitino obviously coached in Lexington. He later held the same job at Louisville, Kentucky’s biggest rival.
His tenure with the Cardinals did not end well and the university initially fired him for cause in wake of a “pay-for-play” scandal that led the NCAA to vacate the program’s 2013 national title. A lengthy legal battle proceeded to unfold. Pitino’s termination was later changed from a “firing” to a “resignation” as result of a settlement between both parties.
For him to turn right around and promise NIL capital to Mark Pope is not necessarily his way of getting back at the school that cut him loose. But… can we say for certain that it is not???
Rick Pitino promised to help bankroll Kentucky, not Louisville!