The expectations are always high at Kentucky. And so is the salary for second-year coach Mark Pope, who earned $5.25 million in total compensation during a 2025-26 season that saw the Wildcats ejected in the second round of the Men's NCAA tournament.
Pope’s contract ranks sixth in the SEC, behind two national championship-winning coaches — John Calipari of Arkansas and Todd Golden of Florida — and another two Final Four coaches — Tennessee’s Rick Barnes and Alabama’s Nate Oats.
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But Pope might not have the worst contract in the conference. That title could also belong to Mississippi’s Chris Beard, who made $6 million this season as the Rebels slumped to the bottom rungs in the SEC standings.
