Kentucky’s newest head coach, Mark Pope, stepped into the historic Wheeler’s Pharmacy on a recent Saturday, continuing a ritual that has become almost as iconic as the Wildcats’ championship banners.
The practice dates back to the tenure of Adolph Rupp, who first visited the downtown Lexington store before his first title, and was later embraced by Joe B. Hall, Rick Pitino and Tubby Smith, each of whom repeated the pilgrimage in hopes of channeling the good fortune that seemed to follow them.
A Legacy of Luck
Founded in 1958 by William K. ‘Buddy’ Wheeler, the pharmacy has been a fixture of the city’s basketball culture for more than six decades. After Buddy’s passing in 2024, his daughter Claire Wheeler Lewis took over the reins in 2020, preserving the shop’s legacy while modernizing its operations.
During Pope’s visit, his coaching staff — including Mark Fox, Mikhail McLean and Cody Fueger — joined him for a lunch with employees and longtime customers. The moment was captured in a series of photographs that show the group sharing stories over classic soda fountains and vintage soda bottles.
For many Kentucky fans, the pilgrimage is more than a quirky habit; it is a symbolic link to a lineage of champions. The belief that a coach’s stop at Wheeler’s can set the stage for a title run has been passed down through generations, turning a simple pharmacy visit into a rite of passage.
The tradition underscores how deeply sports and community are intertwined in the Bluegrass State. Whether or not the superstition translates into actual championships, the ritual reinforces a shared identity that binds players, coaches, and supporters alike.