May 5, 2024
LEXINGTON, Ky. (KT) — Mark Fox gave Kentucky coach Mark Pope his first coaching opportunity at Georgia. Pope returned the favor on Wednesday.
Fox, who has spent 18 seasons as a head coach at Nevada, Georgia and most recently California, joined Pope’s staff as his associate coach.
Pope added that Fox, who served as the director of student-athlete relations and NIL partnerships at Georgetown University last season, “is one of the most intelligent and most detailed-oriented coaches in all of college basketball.”
“Mark has coached NBA draft picks,” Pope said. “He’s coached teams in the NCAA Tournament. He’s recruited the best players in the country, and he’s dealt with every changing dynamic in college basketball over the last 25 years. Coach Fox is going to be a lynchpin in all that we do at the University of Kentucky. I’m glad to welcome Cindy and their family to Big Blue Nation.”
Fox is glad to be rejoining his former player and assistant coach in his return to the Southeastern Conference.
“This opportunity is extra special because, not only do I get to work at one of the most traditional basketball powers in the country, but I also get to work with a former player and a former staff member who is like family to me,” Fox said.
As a head coach, Fox compiled a 324-263 record and was 163-133 while at Georgia for nine years. The Bulldogs won 20 games four times under Fox. He also serves on the Junior National Men’s Team Committee with Team USA. The group is responsible for selecting coaches and athletes for USA Basketball college-aged competitions, which include FIBA U19 World Cups, FIBA Americas U18 Championship and the Pan American Games.
In a release, the university said Fox’s hiring is “contingent on the satisfaction of the University’s pre-employment screenings and other due diligence.”
