Mark Pope's departure from BYU continues to haunt his former program.
Cougars guard Richie Sanders has entered the transfer portal, the team announced in an Instagram post Sunday.
“Due to the uncertainty surrounding my coaching situation, I have decided to enter my name in the transfer portal,” Sanders wrote. “I am heartbroken by the unexpected changes to our coaching staff. With that said, I look forward to moving forward and actively seeking what is best for me and his wife.
“I love BYU and am forever grateful for the experience I've had. I can't thank the coaches, staff, and fans enough for making this experience possible. Cougar Nation Thank you for everything.”
During his two seasons with the Cougars, Sanders became one of the nation's best “glue” players, becoming a fan favorite for his tenacious hustle and overall roughness coming off the bench.
The Wasatch Academy product averaged 9.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game on 52.3 percent shooting this season, scoring in double figures 15 times.
In 68 total games at BYU, Sanders averaged 7.6 points and 3.3 rebounds.
Sanders is the third Cougar to explore portal opportunities following news of Pope's departure, joining point guard Darrin Hall and center Ali Khalifa.
More transfers are expected in the coming days, but depending on who is hired to replace Pope, Sanders and his teammates could return to BYU.