NIL is a key to recruitment in the modern era. Mark Pope is attempting to turn Kentucky into a cutting-edge program. When the UK head coach appeared on Kentucky Sports Radio on Monday, KSR host Matt Jones asked him if Kentucky’s NIL opportunities can currently compete with any program in the country. Pope didn’t mince words.
“The short answer is yes,” Pope said. “The long answer is we are growing, and we need to grow desperately fast. NIL is a massively important part of the landscape of college athletics and certainly of Kentucky basketball. It’s massively important. It’s one of the foundational factors in whether we can hang banners or not. There’s no two ways about it.”
Fast is the key word. On April 11, Kentucky hired Pope to replace John Calipari as the program’s next head coach. Instead of enjoying the comforts of established relationships with donors and long-term NIL plans, Pope was thrown into a storm with little time to learn how to swim.
Nonetheless, Pope is still afloat and paddling toward victory. The 51-year-old head coach has secured six players on the 2024-25 roster, including four transfers. NIL has undoubtedly played a substantial role in his success on the transfer trail.
Mark Pope leading efforts for donations from fans
While Pope is proud of the program’s progress thus far, he knows he and his staff have a long way to go.
“We are in a solid spot right now,” Pope said. “We know that we need to grow and grow really fast. The beautiful thing about Kentucky is we have some really, really significant, capable donors that are that are making a big difference in what we do.
“But, what we have that no one else in the country has, is we have big blue nation. And, if we can find the right ways to harness ownership that the state and BBN around the world has on this team, then we’re going to be fine. And that’s my job.”
Pope is looking to capitalize on Kentucky’s huge fanbase with an initiative called Club Blue. Fans can sign up for a subscription model, including multiple tiers, that goes directly to Kentucky’s NIL efforts.
Pope stated that fans who sign up for Club Blue before May 15 will receive access to a meet and greet with Pope and Kentucky’s team on June 15 in Rupp Arena. Along with the fans, Kentucky will obviously receive financial support from its boosters.
Jones reported earlier this month that two boosters pledged a combined $4 million to Pope’s NIL efforts. If Pope can continue to garner similar support, Kentucky could quickly become a leader in the NIL space.
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