LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The man poised to become the next men's basketball coach for the University of Louisville arrived at Louisville's Bowman Field Thursday.

Kenny Payne was greeted by his former coaches Denny Crum and Wade Houston and interim athletics director Josh Heird.  Payne is expected to be formally announced as UofL's next coach Friday morning at a news conference at 10 a.m. at the KFC YUM! Center.

Earlier this week, multiple media reports said the University of Louisville wiould hire Payne as its next men’s basketball coach.

Sports Illustrated, CBS Sports and even broadcaster Dick Vitale all said it was a done deal. 

UofL has called an athletic association board meeting Friday, March 18 at 10:00 a.m. with a news conference to follow.

Payne is a current assistant with the New York Knicks and played for the Cardinals under Denny Crum. Payne was an assistant for the University of Kentucky for a decade and was also at Oregon. He has never held a head coaching position.

Former men’s basketball coach Chris Mack was released in January 2022 and assistant Mike Pegues filled in as interim head coach while the Cardinals finished the season.