On X, a user with the handle Buddy @BigBlueBud posted that Mitch made no contact whatsoever with UK’s signed recruits after Cal left.
I think (hope) we will be okay this coming year once the dust settles and we see who Coach Pope signs. However, BOTH Mitch and Coach Cal put UK in an awful position with the (purposeful?) ill-timing of the quitting / and the unbelievably poor preparation for life without Coach Cal strategy. Sadly, they have exhibited this foul behavior before (Cal in leaving Memphis and Mitch with life after Tubby and from Brooks to Joker).
In this case, it was inexcusable for them to have allowed their relationship to get so bad that they absolutely put their own bitterness and pride above UK’s well-being. It’s simply not true that it was going to be and had to be messy whenever Coach Cal left. Executives even moderately skilled at transitional leadership would have ensured the exceedingly valuable institution, players, and supporters they were entrusted with were left better off upon their departure than this.
That being said, I hope we will redirect our energy towards supporting Mark Pope and whomever he ends up signing. We’d also be wise to realize the messiness in most of what we are seeing is due to an example of how NOT to do transitional leadership. And the accountability for that falls squarely on the shoulders of two grown men with the means and comfort most of us will only ever dream of; two experienced leaders who acted like petulant kids with each other for over two years leaving the mess for others to clean up.
