UVU Thanks Mark Pope For Four Great Seasons
Apr 10, 2019, 4:48 PM
Ravell Call, Deseret News
OREM, Utah – Former Utah Valley head basketball coach Mark Pope has taken the job at BYU, but the Orem-based school has sent Pope off in a classy way.
In a press release put out by the university, UVU celebrated Pope’s many accomplishments in four years as the head coach of the Wolverines.
“Mark Pope’s impact on Utah Valley University basketball is even bigger than his 6’10” frame,” said UVU president Astrid S. Tuminez in the press release. “While his achievements and records at UVU will undoubtedly be discussed at length, the two things I appreciate most about him are his passion and tenacity for seeing student-athletes succeed. We thank him for his service and wish him and his family the very best.”
Thank you Coach Pope and your family for all you’ve done for Utah Valley University. #GoUVU #UVU pic.twitter.com/UxgsFhW0Tx
— UVU Athletics (@GoUVU) April 10, 2019
Under Pope, the Wolverines racked up a 77-56 record. They were particularly dominant at home, winning 22 straight games spanning the end of the 2017-18 season to the start of the 2018-19 season.
Pope also coached junior Jake Toolson to WAC Player of the Year honors in 2018-19. Toolson became the first UVU player to earn such an accolade.
The program also announced that assistant coach Cody Fueger has been named the interim head coach as a national search will be conducted to find Pope’s permanent replacement.
