Kentucky men’s basketball adds assistant coach

Mikhail McLean is UK basketball's newest assistant coach.
Mikhail McLean is UK basketball's newest assistant coach.(UK Athletics)
Published: Jun. 14, 2024 at 4:50 PM EDT

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WYMT/UK Athletics) –  Kentucky men’s basketball staff hired Mikhail McLean (pronounced: MICK-hail MUH-clean) as an assistant coach on Friday.

“Mikhail played and coached under Kelvin Sampson who is one of the best, toughest, and smartest coaches in the game,” Pope said in a statement to UK athletics.

McLean has spent the last three seasons on staff with Lamar University as an assistant coach.

The Cardinals jumped to a record-breaking 19-14 season in 2023-24. The Cardinals’ 19 wins were their most in NCAA Division I since the 2011-12 season.

McLean is a native of The Bahamas and serves as the associate head coach on the Bahamian National Team staff.