While Mark Pope has been the head basketball coach at Kentucky for over a month, his official contract details were just released.
On Tuesday, the university disclosed the contract information for Pope and his coaching staff. Pope’s contract, which had been previously reported as a five-year deal, will run from April 12, 2024, to March 31, 2029.
Over the duration of his contract, Pope will earn $27.5 million, with a $5 million salary that increases by $250,000 each season.
Despite being a part of the ‘blue blood’ club in college basketball, Kentucky has failed to advance beyond the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament since the 2018-19 season. After the 2020 NCAA Tournament was canceled due to COVID-19, Kentucky missed the 2021 NCAA Tournament and suffered first-round exits in two of the last three seasons.
As a result, Pope will receive a $250,000 bonus for each Sweet Sixteen appearance.
However, Pope’s ambitions go beyond bonuses. He emphasized upon taking the job that “hanging a banner” at Kentucky should be the expectation every season.
“The University of Kentucky is the pinnacle of coaching in college basketball,” Pope said. “It’s the definition of a blueblood program where hanging a banner is the expectation every year.”
Other incentives for Pope include: $500,000 for a National Championship, $250,000 for a Final Four appearance, $100,000 for a regular-season SEC Championship, and $50,000 for an SEC Tournament title.
Kentucky is coming off a 23-10 record and a first-round upset loss in the NCAA Tournament to Oakland. Pope led BYU to the NCAA Tournament this past year after a 23-11 season.