LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The University of Louisville has named Kenny Payne as the new head coach of its men’s basketball program following a national search.

What You Need To Know

  • The 55-year-old will become the 21st permanent head coach in program history

  • Payne is Louisville’s first Black head coach and returns to his alma mater after nearly two seasons as a New York Knicks assistant

  • As a player, Payne helped Louisville win the 1986 National championship

  • Payne’s six-year contract with the Cardinals is worth $3.35 million per year with multiple NCAA tournament and award bonuses listed

After approval by the University of Louisville Athletic Association Board of Directors, the former Cardinals player and Kentucky assistant Kenny Payne was formally introduced to Card Nation.

“This is unbelievable to be able to come back and have a whole state. I don’t think you really understand the whole state embraced this,” Payne said.

Payne says opportunities to become a head coach had been presented before, but none that checked the boxes that the University of Louisville did.

He will be the program’s first Black full-time head coach in Louisville basketball history. The news comes after the school parted ways with Coach Chris Mack in January.

“This is right and the reason it’s right is because it’s not about me at all, it’s not about me, this is about all of you. I took this job for the University of Louisville, for this community, and for this state,” Payne said.

With his first head coaching job at Louisville, Payne made it clear during his press conference Friday that he will need the community and university’s support as he’s tasked to rebuild an elite program.

“This community has to be with me, this state has to be with me, and with me isn’t when it’s good, it’s when it’s bad. There are going to be days when we’re going to go through adversity. I need you with me,” Payne said.

Players, fans and even former teammates like Robbie Valentine gave their stamp of approval for the 55-year-old, who was most recently an assistant coach with the New York Knicks.

Valentine tells Spectrum News 1, “He came here as a young man, he left as a young man, and now he’s back here as a father, husband, and he’s paid his dues.”

As a former player on the UofL basketball team that won the national championship in 1986, Valentine is hoping Payne will bring the program back to greatness.

“Louisville’s gone through hell for three years: COVID-19, protesting. It just so happens we have an African American leader that can help Louisville in a lot of different ways,” Valentine said.

“What if I’m able and we’re able to put this program at levels above where it was at its best?” Payne suggested.

Payne needs to put together a coaching staff, but he’s not going to rush that process.

“When I put together this staff, I’m putting together men that love young people, men that are going to put the kids first, the program first, and then themselves last,” Payne said.

Going forward, he wants high character people and good kids in his program.

“It has to be a win-win. The kid has to reach his dreams. I’m not recruiting kids that are just coming to have fun. I want kids who are dream chasers,” Payne said.

Payne’s six-year contract with the Cardinals is worth $3.35 million per year with multiple NCAA tournament and award bonuses listed.

Payne will become the 21st permanent head coach in program history.

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