Kenny Payne reflects on relationship with Denny Crum

Some of the all-time Louisville basketball greats honored legendary head coach Denny Crum’s life following his funeral on Monday. Fans flocked to the KFC Yum! Center after the game to hear from a group that included current head coach Kenny Payne.

Payne was one of several of Crum’s former players that spoke at Crum’s celebration of life. Those that spoke included Louisville greats — Billy Thompson, Junior Bridgeman and Darrell Griffith — alongside Payne, who added how important it is to carry on Crum’s legacy as the Cardinals’ current head coach.

“He’s a legendary man, they’re the shoes that I have to fill,” Payne said after the celebration. “I’m the prodigal son tasked to make him proud. … It’s very rare to see every player that has ever played for him to have a connection [with each other] — a real connection, a genuine connection.

“He left the gold standard for us, and we have to keep it going.”

Payne also wants Louisville to experiment with and potentially adapt to Crum’s old-school mentality to his current team. It worked for Payne when he played for Crum — so why couldn’t it work now? For the time being, Payne will be going to the drawing board with that idea.

The legendary coach won two national titles at Louisville and reached the Final 4 six times. He was twice named the national coach of the Year by Sporting News. Crum led Louisville to the NCAA Tournament 23 times. His teams recorded 20 or more victories in 21 of his 30 seasons. Crum is one of only 14 coaches to win two or more national titles, doing since 1980 and 1986 at Louisville. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1994.

Payne spoke last year at ACC Media Days about playing under Crum, what it was like and how he wants to continue to honor him.

“I played for a guy who is a Hall of Fame coach, but more importantly [is] a Hall of Fame person… Who gave so much to Louisville. Two national titles. So many Final Fours,” Payne said. 

“To be a part of his program, to be a disciple of his, to give back to the players, which was very important for me, coming back to the school, was that all those guys, regardless of who you played for, you’re a part of this. You’re family. I can’t sit in that seat and allow people to forget who you are, and what you’ve done.”