LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky men’s basketball head coach Mark Pope announced on Friday that Mikhail McLean (pronounced: MICK-hail MUH-clean) has joined the coaching staff as an assistant coach.
Pope expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “Mikhail has played and coached under Kelvin Sampson, who is widely regarded as one of the best, toughest, and smartest coaches in the game. His experience with The Bahamian National Team, combined with his collegiate coaching tenure, has established him as one of the most diligent, detail-oriented, and effective skill development coaches in the country. I am thrilled to welcome him and his family to our staff, as I am confident he will make a significant impact on our program.”
McLean arrives at Kentucky after spending the past three seasons as an assistant coach at Lamar University, where he contributed to the team’s steady improvement culminating in a record-breaking 19-14 season in 2023-24.
“I am honored to be joining Coach Pope and the Kentucky men’s basketball staff,” McLean commented. “There is no better fan base to work for and pursue championships with than this one. I extend my sincere gratitude to Coach Pope and Mitch Barnhart for this opportunity. I also want to acknowledge Alvin Brooks for his exemplary leadership and mentorship during my time at Lamar University and the University of Houston, alongside Kelvin Sampson for his unwavering support and guidance. My family and I are excited to become part of the Lexington community, and I am eager to begin working.”
During his tenure at Lamar, McLean played a key role as the team’s offensive coordinator and was responsible for the development of guards and wings on the court. The Cardinals’ success included leading the Southland Conference in scoring and the emergence of National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District guard Chris Pryor, who averaged 11.5 points per game and excelled in assists and steals.
Beyond his collegiate coaching career, McLean, a native of The Bahamas, serves as the associate head coach for the Bahamian National Team, where he has been involved since 2021, specializing as the team’s defensive coordinator.
In 2023, Team Bahamas achieved a historic milestone by defeating Argentina, ranked fourth in the world, twice during the Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament. This victory secured their place in the final qualifying tournament for the 2024 Olympics after triumphing over Cuba and Uruguay.
McLean and the Bahamas National Team are preparing for their upcoming journey to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games. They will participate in two exhibition games before competing in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Valencia, Spain, starting July 2. The Bahamas aims to secure their inaugural appearance in the Olympics.
As a former standout player at Houston, McLean was a four-year letterwinner and appeared in 101 games for the Cougars. He served as team captain and was a five-time Dean’s List honoree, earning both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Houston within four years.
Transitioning into coaching after his playing career, McLean began as a graduate assistant at Houston and later assumed the role of assistant director of player development. He spent six seasons with the Cougars, contributing to their success in winning consecutive American Athletic Conference titles in 2019 and 2020. McLean played a pivotal role in Houston’s journey to the Sweet 16 in consecutive seasons and their memorable run to the 2021 Final Four.
At Houston, McLean’s responsibilities included opponent scouting and player development, working closely with NBA Draft picks Marcus Sasser, Quentin Grimes, and Damyean Dotson.
