LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – Mark Pope was introduced as Kentucky men’s basketball coach and didn’t mince words, saying, “We are here to win banners.”

Unlike the deal former Coach John Calipari walked away from, Pope will have more of a financial incentive to keep that promise.

In an open records request, WKYT obtained a copy of the terms Pope and UK agreed to on April 12. The document is called a “terms sheet,” which is essentially a deal in principle to be finalized with a formal contract.

In this first year as the Wildcats’ coach, Pope will earn $5 million compared to the $8.5 million Calipari earned before resigning after coaching five years into a 10-year deal.

Calipari’s salary was guaranteed regardless of winning games or championships. Pope will have to win to bring his salary closer to Calipari’s.

If Kentucky is the Southeastern Conference regular-season champion, he’ll receive a $100,000 bonus. Winning the SEC tournament would earn him another $50,000.

Just making it to the NCAA tournament is an expectation of Kentucky fans and carries no financial incentive until the Wildcats advance into the Sweet Sixteen. To get further bonuses, Pope’s team will have to advance that far for him to receive a $50,000 bonus.

Advancing further in the tournament carries an even bigger bonus. A run ending with an Elite Eight appearance carries a $100,0000 bonus, and a Final Four appearance scores Pope a $250,000 bonus. Winning the national title doubles that to $500,000.

As with Calipari, Pope’s new deal would have a $50,000 bonus tied to player academic performance.

Many of the other perks, such as two luxury cars, 20 lower-level tickets to home games, and a private country club/golf membership, remain the same. Newly written in for Pope will be up to 30 hours of private air travel for his personal use each year.

Pope was a member of Kentucky’s 1996 national championship team and has spent the past five seasons as the head coach at BYU, where he took the Cougars to a pair of NCAA tournament appearances.

Kentucky hired Pope three days after Calipari, a Hall of Fame coach who was hired by Arkansas, resigned.

Copyright 2024 WKYT. All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.