Mar 4, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; A detail view of a basketball on the court between the Utah Jazz and the Washington Wizards during the second half at the Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Creveling-USA TODAY Sports Credit: Christopher Creveling-USA TODAY Sports

In the modern era of major college athletics, money and donations are more important than ever as NIL payments become vital to securing the nation’s top prospects and players. As a result, new Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope is already seeking money from fans to make sure that happens.

During a recent press conference, Mark Pope called for donations from Kentucky Wildcats fans to make sure the team had as much money in its NIL collectives as possible.

“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,” Pope said according to On3.

“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.”

We’ll have to see how Pope fares in his first season as the head coach at Kentucky given how high the expectations are for a program of that caliber.

[On3]