Mark Pope has never been the loudest voice in the room, but when he speaks, people listen. The Kentucky head coach chooses his words carefully, and there’s always a sense that he has spent real time thinking through what he believes and why he believes it.
That approach was on full display this week when Pope was asked by Seth Davis about the abusive chants that have been directed toward his former program, BYU, throughout the season.
BYU dealing with repeated anti-Mormon chants
BYU has unfortunately been targeted with anti-LDS language across multiple Big 12 venues this year. The latest incident occurred in Stillwater after the Cougars fell 99-92 to Oklahoma State.
Following the game, BYU head coach Kevin Young described what he heard as his team left the floor:
“(Expletive) the Mormons.”
Young didn’t hide how deeply the moment affected him.
“It’s a great win for Oklahoma State University. Their fans should be proud,” Young said. “It would be great if some class was warranted in there as well. I’ve got four small kids at home. I’m a Mormon. When I go home, they’re going to ask me about it, same way as they asked me about it last year at Arizona. There’s just too much hate in the world to be saying stuff like that. We’ve got enough problems in our world without going at people’s religion and beliefs, and whether it’s in vogue or not.
Pope acknowledges complexity while staying grounded
Pope, who is also a member of the LDS Church, admitted he has mixed feelings about situations like this.
“I don’t think you’re going to like either of my answers,” Pope said. “But I kind of feel two ways. I love all the craziness that surrounds sports. I love fanbases and I love how passionate they get. It’s probably unfortunate that we’re so much in personal and identity attacks, but it comes with the territory. That’s what we do, right?”
He added that while there are lines he wishes wouldn’t be crossed, he also believes something has been lost in how people handle words today.
“I grew up in a time where sticks and stones may break your bones but words will never hurt me. I think we’ve lost something there too.”
Pope later referenced a quote from Deion Sanders in the full interview, further expanding on the idea of mental toughness and perspective.
A mindset built for Kentucky
That level-headed approach is likely to serve Pope well in Lexington. Few coaching jobs come with more scrutiny, louder opinions, or higher expectations than Kentucky basketball. Criticism will come—from opponents, media, and even portions of Big Blue Nation itself.
Pope’s ability to filter out the noise, focus on substance, and lead with intention is a major reason Kentucky believed he was the right man for the job. Moments like this only reinforce that belief.
He isn’t trying to win soundbite battles. He isn’t chasing headlines. He’s showing that he understands the reality of sports, the weight of leadership, and the importance of perspective.
And in a profession built on pressure, that may be one of his greatest strengths.
