Kenny Payne thanks University of Kentucky for embracing former Card

An emotional Kenny Payne took the podium Friday morning as the University of Louisville officially named the former star as its next head basketball coach. Gracious for the opportunity, he admitted there were plenty of tears shed before ultimately reaching a decision this week to return to UofL.

“I have to thank the New York Knicks. I have to thank Jim Dolan personally,” Payne said. “For me to walk away from it and for him to give me his blessing, it was not easy, more than I can tell you. I cried six, seven times a day for me to get out of there.”

Payne spent the last two years with the Knicks after spending a decade on John Calipari’s staff at Kentucky. Typically, an introductory press conference is a good time to throw in a jab at the rival. Payne did not do that, nor did he directly thank Calipari, but he did share what the University of Kentucky’s support means to him. Asking for support from the fans and community, he wants to have the same feeling of commitment at UofL that he received at UK.

“The president of the University of Kentucky texted me at three o’clock this morning, I think it was. ‘Kenny, I’m so happy for you. Thank you for doing this.’ What does that mean? Coach Cal calling me over the last two days. ‘Kenny, you have to take this job.’ Why? Understand here now, the University of Kentucky what they did was embraced one of yours. They embraced one of yours. More than I could ever tell you, they embrace one of yours. I can’t do this by myself. But what they said to me was this: In order for this state to be great, the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky has to be great. How powerful is that?”

Kenny Payne is a man of integrity. He's a great recruiter and developer of players, and he will bring stability to @LouisvilleMBB while also playing a major role in the Louisville community. Welcome home @CoachKennyPayne! We're proud to have you and excited for bright days ahead. pic.twitter.com/Rh2uIZWfhX

— Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) March 18, 2022

Kenny Payne Shares a Message for his Son

Kenny Payne was joined on stage by his family, including his son Zan. Now in his fourth season on the Kentucky basketball team, he made the trip from Indianapolis to support his father (without wearing red). Near the end of Payne’s opening remarks, he asked his son to stand up in the middle of the stage. Payne apologized for not always putting his family first, but also wanted to show Zan where hard work can take you in life.

“When a mother and a father trust you with their kid, they are trusting you with their most prized possession. They’re trusting their most prized possession. As a coach, there’s a responsibility that goes with that, and to be honest with you, it supersedes your job. You are now a father, you are now a mentor, you are now a person that the most important time in this kid’s life is now and you’re it’s in your hands. The reason I want my son to stand up because I want him to hear this message,” said Payne.

“To put other people’s kids first at times is a sacrifice for my family and for him. He needed me. I wasn’t always there. But the most important lesson is I did it the right way; every single thing the right way. I put other people first. I put the job second, but I put people first, especially kids. At times I didn’t get the publicity, that notoriety or fame. I didn’t care about that. I took on the responsibility and by doing right by others, every success that I’ve ever had came from that and that alone. And I want him to notice I worked my butt off to be good at my job, really worked. Really spent time with kids, studied from great coaches, not just good coaches, great coaches. And I did the right things for one reason: It’s the right thing to do. No agendas, none. In life, things aren’t always promised to you. I didn’t know I would ever end up here. The lesson is, dear son, you work your tail off, you do right by people, you be an ambassador for good and your blessings will come. That’s that’s the message I want you to know.”