Mark Pope, the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats basketball team, is married to Lee Anne Pope, the daughter of Lynn Archibald, a former basketball coach at the University of Utah.
Lee Anne earned a journalism degree from Brigham Young University (BYU) and worked as a personal assistant to David Letterman in New York City.
Highlights
- Mark and Lee Anne are blessed with four daughters- Ella, Avery, Layla, and Shay.
- Inspired by their parents, Ella, 23, plays basketball at Ohio University, and Avery, 20, plays tennis at BYU.
- The Pope family believes in teaching their daughters that if they want to play, it’s not the coach’s responsibility to make that happen- It’s them.
She became well-known within the BYU basketball program, where Mark had previously coached.
Many former players affectionately referred to her as the “mom of the program” because of the nurturing role she played.
Mark and Lee Anne’s relationship began when they met through her brother, Damon Archibald, at a basketball camp.
When Mark Pope was named the new head coach for the University of Kentucky, during his introduction at Rupp Arena, Mark shared his deep love for his wife:
I’m madly in love with this woman. She makes sense of my whole life. You’ll quickly find out that she’s gonna get to know every single one of you and love you like crazy. It’s gonna be really special.
Mark Pope
Four Daughters- Ella, Avery, Layla, And Shay Have Learned To Stick With Sports Since Their Young Age
Mark and Lee Anne Pope have four daughters: Ella, 23, who plays basketball at Ohio University; Avery, 20, who plays tennis at BYU; Layla, 18, who loves to dance; and Shay, 14, who plays volleyball.
The Pope family is about supporting each other and chasing their dreams within the Mormon faith.
Lee Anne believes that sports are a powerful way to build character, teaching vital skills like teamwork, discipline, hard work, and perseverance, especially when facing setbacks.
“Sports are an incredible way to learn about sacrifice, working as a team, and overcoming obstacles. Winning is important, but what truly matters is how much effort you give and what you’re willing to invest.”
Lee Anne
She also pointed out how her daughters have gained confidence through their sports.
Even on challenging days, sports offer an outlet for her daughters. Whether it’s practicing in the gym or dancing in the studio, they always leave feeling uplifted.
When the girls were young, Lee Anne made sure they tried out as many sports and activities as possible.
They all took dance lessons and played soccer, basketball, and volleyball; three even played tennis.
Over time, each of them found a sport or activity they truly loved.
Lee Anne says it was great to see them choose something they were passionate about and were willing to work hard for, even if it meant making sacrifices.
They all gave up free time and weekends with friends to focus on their goals.
Both Ella and Avery now play college sports at the Division I level, and balancing athletics, academics, and social life is tough, but they have embraced the challenge.
Ella, a freshman at Ohio University, explained that their parents always taught them to pursue what they love with full effort and to make the most of their time.
The Pope family believes in teaching their daughters that if they want to play, it’s not the coach’s responsibility to make that happen; it’s up to them to prove they deserve the opportunity.
Lee Anne added that blaming external factors like referees or politics only diminishes a child’s power, and that’s not how they approach challenges.
Additional Information
- Pope played as a power forward and small forward as a player. He was named Pac-10 Freshman of the Year while playing for the Washington Huskies.
- Then, he was transferred to Kentucky, where he became a team captain for their 1996 NCAA national championship team.
- After college, Pope played professionally for nearly ten years, both in the U.S. and internationally.
- Before becoming the head coach at Kentucky, he was the head coach of the Brigham Young University (BYU) Cougars in the Big 12 Conference.
