Coach Pope is in his third season as head coach of the OU men's volleyball program.
Under Pope's leadership in 2022, the Braves finished the season with an overall record of 15-10 and a GPAC mark of 7-3. The 15 wins are the second most in program history. For the second straight season, Ottawa played in the GPAC Tournament Championship match. The Braves had eight players named to the All-GPAC Teams. The Braves were one of the best blocking teams in the NAIA, setting a new school record for blocks per set in a season and finishing seven matches with 14 or more teams blocks. Twice the Braves had 17.5 team blocks, once against then no. 6 ranked University of Jamestown.
In Pope's first season at the helm, the Braves finished with an overall record of 7-11 and a fourth place finish in the GPAC with a record of 2-4. Ottawa had eight players earn All-GPAC honors and the team ended the year receiving votes in the NAIA Men's Volleyball Coaches Top 15 Poll.
Pope spent the 2019-20 school year as a graduate assistant coach at the University of Jamestown. He helped with recruiting, worked with budgets, and scheduling. Pope helped the first year program to an overall record of 11-2 and a 5-1 conference record. Under his tutelage, freshman setter Derek Correa, who led the NAIA in assists per set (11.34), was a Second Team All-Conference selection.
Before his stint at the University of Jamestown, Pope was a volunteer assistant with both the women’s and men’s volleyball programs at Ottawa University. He organized practice plans and did scouting reports on opponents.
Pope has also coached club volleyball, and since August 2018, he has been a head volleyball coach for the MAVS Club. Pope coached the 15-year-olds #3 Club, where he planned practices and scheduled tournaments. He was also a head volleyball coach for the HBC Club from October 2013 to July 2016. Pope was the head coach for the boys 14-year-olds #1 and 14-year-olds #2 clubs. Pope was also the head coach for the 16-year-olds #2 Club. During that time, he was also the head coach for the Fountain Valley High School junior varsity for both boys and girls.
Pope was a two year letterman for the Braves, playing for Blessington. Pope earned NAIA All-American honors and was the 2017 AVCA NAIA Newcomer of the Year. He was a two-time All-Conference performer at setter for the Braves. Pope helped the Braves to two NAIA Invitational Tournaments. He holds the OU school record for assists in a match (68), career assists (2,490) and career assists per set (10.97).
Pope spent one season at Golden West College, where he finished his career with 676 assists, a 9.39 assist per set average, 79 digs, and 36 blocks.
Pope graduated from Ottawa University in 2019 with a degree in exercise science with an emphasis in coaching.Â
