Pat Kelsey on leaving Charleston: 'We had a great run there'

Pat Kelsey had no option but to take Louisville up on the incredible opportunity of coaching their historic men’s basketball program, but that didn’t make saying goodbye to Charleston any easier.

The young but tenured head coach sat down with Jon Rothstein recently as the two discussed Kelsey’s upcoming first season at Louisville on Rothstein’s podcast, College Hoops Today. At one point, Kelsey was asked about his emotions leaving Charleston after a successful stint.

“Yeah, you know, we had a great run there,” he said, then explaining that changes are simply a part of life as a coach, and Kelsey says he loved his time in Charleston.

“You know, there’s seasons to life and changes occur, transitions occur. If I look back to my 12 years, going on 13 as a head coach, we had a great eight-year run at Winthrop. We had the opportunity to go to Charleston. That city welcomed the Kesleys with open arms. It was difficult to leave because, you know, it was just a special time and a special run.”

The winning was nice, but what Kelsey really appreciated about Charleston was the relationships he built while there.

“We had a great three-year run on the court, but just the relationships we made with the city, the student body, alumni, the people within the athletic department, led by Matt Roberts, who has become a great, great friend of mine.”

So, when the Cardinals came calling, Roberts was first to tell Kelsey he needed to take the gig.

“When the Louisville opportunity came up and I was offered the position, he just walked in my office and gave me a hug,” Kelsey said of Roberts. “And he goes ‘Go! I’m going to kick you out the door and you run there.’ Obviously, he understands the caliber of opportunity I have here.”

For a logtime mid-major coach like Pat Kelsey, the chance to lead a power conference team and one of the winningest programs of all time is a dream. Plus, he knows what he’s in for when it comes to the rabid fanbase.

“I already knew about the passion of basketball, Jon, in this state, because I grew up in Cincinnati a stone’s throw over the river, and this is one of the most knowledgeable, passionate basketball populations as there is in the country,” he told Rothstein.

Charleston will miss him, and Pat Kelsey will remember his days there fondly, but he’s ready to take on the challenge at Louisville.