KY Coach’s Touching Viral Moment With UK Fan in Mississippi

The new University of Kentucky head basketball coach couldn't stop winning hearts and minds if he tried. Mark Pope, who was hired away from Brigham Young University to replace former Wildcats head coach John Calipari, wasn't exactly a popular choice among the super-passionate UK fan base at the time.

Mark Pope -- the Right Hire for Kentucky

After athletic director Mitch Barnhart swung for the fences in attempting to get recent championship-winning coaches like Dan Hurley and Scott Drew to move to Lexington, he turned to the guy he really wanted all along, a guy who had never won an NCAA Tournament game as a head coach. You can imagine Big Blue Nation's reaction. Of course, if you scan social media from last April, you won't have to, and that's despite the fact that he was already a beloved individual among the fans, having captained the 1996 title team.

UK Coach Visits With Wheelchair-Bound Fan

But through is first 16 games, Pope has led the 'Cats to victories over top ten teams in Duke, Gonzaga (#7 at the time of that victory), and Florida. This weekend, they added a win over top 20 Mississippi State to the resume. And then came one of the most special moments you'll likely see in college basketball this season. There was a healthy collection of UK fans in Starkville MS for the game, and Coach Pope decided to hold an impromptu meet-and-greet after the game. During the casual get-together, Pope noticed a UK fan unable to make it down to the floor because he was in a wheelchair.

Then this:

Mark Pope is the genuine article in every facet of human nature. To put in the simplest of terms, he's just a really good dude. Couple that with the fact that he is also an excellent coach, and you have Kentucky fans excited about their program in a way they haven't been in years.