BREAKING NEWS: Former Kentucky men basketball head coach Billy Gillispie whom was also head coach of Tarleton state, sent a heart Touching message to Mark pope concerning…
As of February 22, 2025, there are no public reports of former Kentucky men’s basketball head coach Billy Gillispie sending a message to current head coach Mark Pope. However, it’s worth noting that in December 2024, Gillispie, then head coach at Tarleton State, returned to El Paso and paid homage to local icons, including Don Haskins and Maynard Haddad. During this visit, he expressed deep appreciation for the people of El Paso, stating, “I love this town, I love El Paso… the people in El Paso, man, they’re the best.”
In the same month, Mark Pope, leading the Kentucky Wildcats, emphasized the importance of the team’s rivalry with Louisville. He highlighted a unique initiative where former players wrote letters to current team members, sharing what the rivalry meant to them. Pope remarked, “Our media and alumni team did something really cool that I thought was so special. They each wrote a letter to one of our players about what this game means to them, and that probably says it better than I ever could.”
While there is no documented communication between Gillispie and Pope, both coaches have demonstrated a profound respect for basketball traditions and the communities they’ve been part of.
