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Mark Pope exits the bus he rode into the arena, carrying the 1996 Championship Trophy at an event naming him head coach of the Kentucky men's NCAA college basketball team, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., Sunday, April 14, 2024.

James Crisp, AP Photo

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Mark Pope speaks to fans and media after being named Kentucky men's NCAA college basketball head coach in Lexington, Ky., Sunday, April 14, 2024.

James Crisp, AP Photo

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Mark Pope speaks to fans and media after being named Kentucky men's NCAA college basketball head coach in Lexington, Ky., Sunday, April 14, 2024.

James Crisp, AP Photo

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Was there ever any doubt that Mark Pope would work the Kentucky crowd like a politician at a national convention?

A full Rupp Arena in Lexington greeted the energetic and gregarious former Utah Valley and BYU coach at his introductory press conference on Sunday, interrupting nearly every comment he made with thunderous applause. Almost 24,000 fans tuned in on the live stream of the event as well.

As he showed numerous times in both Orem and Provo, Pope is very comfortably in his element selling his vision.

Two policemen on motorcycles escorted a bus filled with former player into the arena while the band played the Kentucky fight song. Pope, who was named the new Wildcats head coach on Friday, eventually emerged holding the 1996 national championship trophy he helped win.

Pope shared stories about his playing days at Kentucky, told jokes about being “the worst player in NBA history” and embraced the legacy that is Wildcats basketball.

“Every coach in America at these press conference tries to moderate expectations,” Pope said. “We don’t do that here at Kentucky. When Mitch (Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart) called me and talked to me about being the head coach at Kentucky, I understood the assignment. We are here to win banners. I would try to temper expectations, but that ain’t happening, so why try?”

Pope led the Kentucky faithful in a round of “C-A-T-S, Cats, Cats, Cats!” cheers. Later, a reporter forgot his question during the news conference and Pope told a joke to help him recover.

He introduced his wife, Lee Ann, and his four daughters to the Kentucky faithful, then addressed who he is.

“I’m a coach who loves Kentucky from the depths of my soul,” Pope said. “I love this game from the depths of my soul. I love my family from the depths of my soul and I’m a believer who loves God from the depths of my soul.”

Pope was asked about his coaching philosophy.

“We’re going to be absurdly aggressive on offense,” he sad. “We’re going to change things up and keep people on their heels on defense. That’s our plan every day. We have no choice but to be successful. We’re going to be relentless 24-7 and work. Those are not fake words. I learned that here. I also learned about resilience here, it’s a requirement. And I learned that passion wins championships. Entitlement leads to sorrow and depression. What I learned at Kentucky is that gratitude leads to joy.”

Pope didn’t mention BYU by name but referred to his former school — indirectly — several times during his address.

“My team last year made the second-most 3-pointers in all of college basketball,” he said. “But at Kentucky, we don’t come in second. My team last year had the fourth-most assists in the country. At Kentucky, we share everything.”

Later, Pope said, “I’ve been blessed with some incredible coaching opportunities. I loved deeply the places I’ve coached. But all the AD’s and administrators, they knew my heart bleeds blue Kentucky.”

In a bit more hyperbole, Pope mentioned that at his “previous institutions,” he had practices open for “everybody, everyday.” At least with the media, practices were open only once a week during his stint at BYU.

The eight-time NCAA champion Wildcats had, for them, a down season in 2023-24, finishing 23-10 and getting upset by No. 14 seed Oakland in the first round of March Madness. Barnhart and coach John Calipari clashed, and eventually Calipari jumped at an offer to take over the Arkansas program.

Kentucky took shots at several higher profile candidates but eventually offered the job to Pope, the captain of their 1996 NCAA championship team dubbed, “The Untouchables.”

BYU, meanwhile, is working to find Pope’s replacement in a timely fashion. In five seasons in Provo, Pope made two NCAA Tournaments (2021, 2024) and would have earned a third if not for the pandemic in 2020. The Cougars were picked to finish 13th (out of 14 teams) in their inaugural Big 12 season (2023-24) but earned fifth place and a No. 6 NCAA seed. Pope invigorated a program that had struggled in the final years of Dave Rose’s tenure, where the Cougars missed out on the NCAA tournament four straight seasons. BYU averaged 14,410 fans in the Marriott Center last season, second in the Big 12 and 14th in the country.

Three current Cougar players have already entered the transfer portal: point guard Dallin Hall, wing Richie Saunders and center Aly Khalifa. It’s possible all three could return to Provo once the coaching search is concluded. Saunders indicated he was simply keeping his options open due to the coaching change and Khalfia told On3Sports his final three are Kentucky, Louisville and BYU.

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