In a candid and headline-grabbing interview, newly-appointed Kentucky Wildcats head coach **Mark Pope** has opened up about the pressure, expectations, and the bold decisions he’s preparing to make as he takes the reins of one of college basketball’s most iconic programs.
Speaking with *SEC Now* in his first in-depth media appearance since replacing John Calipari, Pope didn’t hold back.
“I’ll be brutally honest — I know what this job means. I know what’s at stake. And I’m not here to play it safe,” Pope said. “My next big move? It’s going to shake things up.”
A New Era in Lexington
Mark Pope, a former national champion with Kentucky in 1996 and most recently the head coach at BYU, made it clear that he intends to build *his* version of Kentucky basketball — one that blends tradition with fearless innovation.
> “I’m not coming in just to maintain the legacy — I’m here to expand it,” he said. “That means changes in recruiting, changes in culture, and changes in how we play.”
Hinting at a Blockbuster Roster Move?
While Pope remained tight-lipped about specifics, insiders are buzzing about a potential **blockbuster transfer portal addition** and a possible shake-up in the assistant coaching staff. One anonymous source close to the program teased, “Let’s just say Mark’s not wasting time trying to make Kentucky *his* team.”