Louisville to Fire Coach Kenny Payne After Two Seasons, per Report
The Louisville Cardinals reportedly will be looking for a new men’s basketball head coach this offseason.
Louisville plans to fire coach Kenny Payne in the next 24 hours, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Tuesday night. Payne has yet to speak with Louisville athletic director Josh Heird after the Cardinals’ season ended with a 94–85 loss to the N.C. State Wolfpack on Tuesday in the ACC tournament.
Payne, who was hired in March 2022, tallied a 12–51 record over two seasons at the helm. The Cardinals struggled to a 4–28 record last season, which is the worst mark in modern program history. They finished last in the ACC again this year, going 8–24 and 3–17 in conference play.
Payne played four seasons in college for the Cardinals from 1985 to ‘89 and won a national championship in ‘86. He played four seasons in the NBA and began his coaching career in 2004 at Oregon.
Louisville has made just one NCAA tournament appearance since firing Rick Pitino in 2017.
