The University of Louisville Fires Kenny Payne

The University of Louisville Fires Kenny Payne

Time Stamp: March 13, 2024 1:19 PM

After two embarrassing seasons for the Cardinals, the University of Louisville fires Kenny Payne from his post as the Men’s Basketball Head Coach, Director of Athletics Josh Heird announced earlier on Wednesday.

“Kenny has given a great deal to this university over a span of nearly 40 years, and he will always be a valued member of our Louisville family,” Heird said in a statement. “When we brought Kenny home in 2022, no one had a stronger belief than me in his potential success, but it’s become clear that a change is needed to help this program achieve what is expected and attainable.”

“While it is always difficult to make a coaching transition, this is the right one for our program. On behalf of myself and everyone involved with our men’s basketball program, I want to thank Kenny for his dedication to UofL. I wish him and his family the very best in their future.”

Payne finishes his tenure with a humiliating 12-52 record in two seasons, including 5-37 in the ACC. He went 4-28 in his first season, following it up with an 8-24 record this season. Arguably the most embarrassing statistic of them all is Louisville, under Payne, finished with more exhibition loses than wins away from the KFC YUM! Center. Louisville had never lost an exhibition game before Payne’s arrival.

Payne is a beloved alum of the university and its basketball program, playing under head coach Denny Crum from 1985-1989. He helped the Cardinals win their second ever national championship in 1986 as a freshmen, and would go on to score over 1,000 career points and become a first round NBA Draft Pick.

Fans and former players pushed for Payne’s hiring in 2022 after the departure of Chris Mack. His recruiting prowess and reputation for being one of the best assistants in the country were hopeful signs that he could bring back Cardinal Basketball to its rightful place among the national landscape. Payne was hired on March 18, 2022, and is now fired nearly two years later.

Louisville is one of the best and winningest programs of all time, and will be the best job available this coaching cycle. There will be a wide candidate pool, containing names such as Baylor’s Scott Drew, Alabama’s Nate Oats, UCLA’s Mick Cronin, FAU’s Dusty May, Kansas State’s Jerome Tang, and Indiana State’s Josh Schertz.

The national search for a new coach “will begin immediately” according to Zach Greenwell of Louisville Athletics.

Stay tuned for more college basketball news, among other sports and esports news!

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