Kenny Payne (Vicky Graff Photo)
If there was any doubt about whether former Kentucky assistant coach Kenny Payne would have interest in the vacant head coaching position at Louisville, his alma mater, that ended Friday. New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau confirmed Friday that Payne, a Knicks assistant, is indeed interested in the position and gave Payne a recommendation to fill the job created when Chris Mack was fired last week.
Payne, 55, was John Calipari’s top assistant at Kentucky before leaving to join the Knicks. He turned down a chance to become head coach at DePaul last year.
“He’s fit in seamlessly (with the Knicks) and I think there’s great comfort in the college game because of the great success they’ve had at Kentucky,” Thibodeau told the New York Times. “I think, for him, Louisville is obviously appealing because it’s his alma mater.
We’ve had the same situation last year with Mike Woodson (who left the Knicks bench to take over Indiana). He’s interested and I think he’ll be a great fit, ideal for them.”
Payne was hired for Thibodeau’s staff by his longtime friend/associate William Wesley, who is now a top Knicks executive.
Louisville is 11-10 this season and 5-6 in the ACC and has not been a NCAA Tournament factor in the last four years.
Payne won a national title with Louisville in 1986 and one of his teammates was Milt Wagner. Of course, Wagner’s grandson, D.J., is one of the top players in the 2023 recruiting class and has long been rumored to be a future Kentucky commit since Milt Wagner played for Calipari at Memphis. However, Payne getting the head job at Louisville could change that since Payne and Milt Wagner are best friends.
Payne would seem the perfect fit to help the healing/rebuilding at Louisville. He played there, he’s a fabulous recruiter, he’s a media favorite and he is just a good person.
No idea what the Cardinals will do but sure seems like Payne would be a logical and terrific hire.
6 Responses
The only draw back is no one knows what the NCAA got up there sleeve for Louisville. The school is in such a mess and it’s going take the start at the ground and work it back were it should be .
I agree. The only thing is, look what Pitino did here. He walked into a mess, made a better name for himself. Put a guy like Payne in the Louisville position and they will be dangerous in a few years. Awesome coach. I hope he takes the job. I used to pull for Louisville when Crum coached there. ( providing they were not playing Kentucky)
I tend to agree with you on what Kenny could do
would kind of be like when Pitino came to UK. Kenny would know what he was facing but guarantee you he will believe he can fix it the right way
The question for me is whether Kenny Payne would be given the latitude to build and run that program as he wants, which would be the right way, or whether the poisonous culture that has defined UL athletics for many years would continue to set the tone.
If the former, Kenny Payne is a natural. If the latter, Kenny Payne should back off and let someone else take it.
SI said, " It’s impossible for the next Louisville coach to know what alignment would even look like, since he doesn’t know as of this moment whom his bosses will be." Does this mean that UL is also looking for a new AD? I read this week that UL is looking for a new AD and President. Therefore it is impossible for a new coach to know what the landscape at UL will be.
Very risky for Kenny Payne, yet as noted, if anyone could bring their program back it would be Kenny.
Will be interesting to watch this one play out.
I don’t see how they hire a coach until the new AD is in place