Mark Pope’s offer from Kentucky is a five-year contract worth $27.5 million, initially. This agreement was made after John Calipari left to coach Arkansas. The contract includes potential bonuses based on team performance, including academic achievements and on-court success. Reaching the Sweet 16, as Kentucky did in Pope’s first season, triggers a one-year extension and a $50,000 bonus.
Here’s a more detailed breakdown:
-
Initial Contract:Pope was hired on a five-year, $27.5 million contract.
-
Sweet 16 Bonus:Reaching the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament automatically extends his contract by one year and grants him a $50,000 bonus.
-
Contract Extension:The Sweet 16 achievement has extended Pope’s deal through the 2029-30 season.
-
Bonuses:In addition to the automatic extension, Pope’s contract includes various bonuses for achieving certain milestones, such as reaching the Elite Eight ($100,000), the Final Four ($250,000), or winning the NCAA Championship ($500,000), as well as academic achievements like a team GPA of 3.0 or higher ($25,000).
-
Potential Salary Increase:The contract extension also increases Pope’s salary for the extended year, making it $6.25 million for the 2029-30 season, with $4.687,500 guaranteed.
-
Salary Ranks:According to USA Today, Pope was the 11th-highest paid men’s basketball coach in the country for the 2024-25 season
