Kentucky coach Mark Pope reminds his players often there is a "whole lof of life" after basketball. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Mark Pope was a cerebral player — and still is with the way he coaches — and was in medical school when he decided to change career paths and become a college basketball coach.
That’s why it was no surprise at his weekly press conference Wednesday when he spent time talking about academics and life after basketball for his players.
“We have so many different guys on different pathways academically. We’ve got a bunch of grad guys, undergrads, freshmen. It’s a really important part of the experience, right?” Pope told media members. “You’re here to do well and do well in class, and that’s really important to us.
“It’s an incredible opportunity to learn and grow and prepare yourself for a future that’s going to come outside of basketball. Since the beginning of time, a great professional basketball career is 10 years and an insanely long professional basketball career is 20 years. We’ve got a whole lot of life after that where you should be doing something great.”
Pope said he talks to his players often about life after basketball.
“If you live a great life, then playing in the NBA is going to be like the sixth or seventh or eighth or ninth coolest thing you do in your life,” Pope said. “There are a lot of numbers before those.
“Doing well in school and building networks and building relationships and gaining education, it’s about living a great life. Our guys take it seriously.”
