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Report: Louisville narrowing in on familiar name as next head coach

275133747_4796292347117549_592518599057046758_nby:Jonathan Wagner•03/15/22•

Jonathan Wagner

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Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images.

The Louisville Cardinals are still searching for a new head men’s basketball coach after parting ways with Chris Mack during this season. According to Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde, Louisville could be narrowing in on a familiar face as the next leader of the program.

“Louisville has narrowed its search for a new men’s basketball coach with New York Knicks assistant Kenny Payne the primary target, sources told Sports Illustrated,” Forde said. “There is nothing definite yet, with discussions ongoing and no job offered or accepted, sources said. But if talks proceed well over the next 24 hours, Payne could be introduced as the new coach of the Cardinals as soon as Thursday.”

Payne played at Louisville, and was on the 1986 national title winning team. He was a candidate back in 2018 before Louisville ultimately hired Mack. Now, Payne is garnering interest yet again for the Louisville head coach position, and things could begin moving quickly.

Louisville would be getting an accomplished assistant coach in Payne

In addition to Payne and Louisville being familiar already, the Cardinals will also be getting a pretty accomplished coach. Payne has never been a head coach, but he has extensive experience over the past two decades as an assistant. In 2004, Payne served as an assistant coach with the Oregon Ducks.

Payne then spent 2010 through 2020 with the Kentucky Wildcats. From 2010-2014, he served as an assistant coach. Then, from 2014-2020, Payne was promoted to an associate head coach under Kentucky head coach John Calipari. Payne won the NCAA Championship with Kentucky in 2012, and has been on staff for six Wildcats SEC Tournament championships as well. He also helped Oregon win the Pac-10 Tournament in 2007.

In addition to his experience across the college ranks, Payne has also tried his hands as an assistant in the NBA. He joined the New York Knicks staff as an assistant in 2020, and has been with the Knicks ever since.

This season was certainly disappointing for Louisville, but bringing Payne in as the Cardinals next head coach could provide the spark that the program is looking for. Louisville finished this season 13-19 overall and 6-14 against ACC opponents.