© Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Cal's Mark Madsen Is Likely to Be Considered for BYU Opening
BYU coach reportedly will be Kentucky's next head coach, and it makes sense that BYU would be interested in Mark Madsen as a successor to Pope at BYU. However, Madsen, recently signed an extension at Cal
BYU head coach Mark Pope is expected to be the next head coach at Kentucky, according to multiple reports, and that means Mark Madsen's name will come up as a possible successor to Pope as BYU's next head coach.
Madsen just completed his first season as Cal's head coach, and led the Bears to a 9-11 record in Pac-12 play. And just four weeks ago he signed a contract extension with Cal that runs through 2030.
Madsen is a Mormon, so the idea that he would be considered for the BYU head coaching job makes sense, but he is also an honorable man who might not be willing to leave Cal after just signing a contract extension.
Nonetheless, it would not be at all surprising for BYU officials to contact Madsen to gauge his interest in the BYU job. Until Madsen issues a statement that he is not interested in the BYU vacancy, his name will continue to come up in speculation reports regarding the next BYU head coach.
The two-year extension Madsen signed on March 12 was done to persuade him from leaving for another school, but it does not prevent him from going elsewhere.
Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury posted this information about Madsen's buyout at Cal in his original contract. It appears his buyout would be $4 million if the buyout did not change. However, Cal probably increased the amount of the buyout in the extension:
BYU is a member of the Big 12 and would be considered a step up from Cal, which will enter the ACC next season.
The Cougars finished the 2023-24 season with a 23-11 mark, including 10-8 in the Big 12, generally considered the best basketball conference in the country. They were ranked in the top 25 much of the season but were not ranked in the final AP poll. BYU reached the NCAA tournament with a No. 6 seed but lost in the first round to Duquesne.
BYU has been to the NCAA tournament twice in the past four seasons, while Cal has not been to the NCAA tournament since 2016.
Cal is Madsen's second head-coaching stop. He spent four seasons at Utah Valley before being hired at Cal to replace Mark Fox.
Pope's salary has not been disclosed since BYU is a private school, but the best guess is that it is in the $2 million-a-year range.
Follow Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jakecurtis53
Find Cal Sports Report on Facebook by going to https://www.facebook.com/si.calsportsreport
