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By firing men’s basketball coach Kenny Payne after two tumultuous seasons, the University of Louisville has made a decision that will “linger into the future” of the program, according to the Lexington (Kentucky) Herald Leader.
“The Cardinals will pay dearly for firing him,” wrote Cameron Drummond in the headline of his March 14 story, after a two-year tenure that was the darkest period in the modern history of Louisville basketball. The Cardinals were a dismal 12-52, with more than 30 of those losses coming by double digits.
Payne, a 57-year-old former player on Louisville’s 1986 national championship team, was fired March 13. Because he was not fired for cause, the school has to buy him out for $8 million, according to Drummond.
“Payne’s buyout was set to drop to $6 million at the start of April, but U of L athletics director Josh Heird didn’t wait that long to dismiss Payne,” he wrote.
Still, even with Payne’s $8 million buyout – along with the $4.8 million severance package given to former head football coach Chris Mack – Louisville has the financial ability to pursue a top coach to replace Payne, Heird said at his press conference March 13.
“There has been speculation that Louisville might not be able to pursue some top coaching candidates because of lofty buyouts,” Sports Illustrated’s Matthew McGavic wrote. “For example, UCLA head coach Mick Cronin has a buyout hovering around $20 million.”
A Bleak Era in Louisville Basketball
The 2022-23 season was particularly dire, with a 4-28 record, marking the most defeats in a single season in the program’s storied history. The 2023-24 campaign didn’t fare much better, with the team finishing 8-24 and suffering a first-round exit in the conference tournament.
Payne’s tenure not only represents the lowest winning percentage in Louisville’s history but also sets a dubious record in ACC history among coaches with at least 25 games coached. The Cardinals’ struggles were particularly pronounced in conference play, with a dismal 5-37 record under Payne’s leadership. The team’s performance outside of the KFC Yum Center was equally dire, managing just one victory in 28 games played away from home.
Payne was listed as the 24th highest-paid coach in men’s college basketball in 2024 and the fourth highest paid coach in the ACC at the time of his firing.
What’s Next For Louisville Basketball?
As the university searches for Payne’s replacement, it faces the daunting task of restoring the program’s former glory. Despite the current challenges, Louisville basketball’s rich history and potential make it an attractive destination for prospective candidates. With ample financial support and resources, the university is poised to attract top-tier talent to lead the program forward.
Potential candidates include established head coaches from high-major programs, such as Baylor’s Scott Drew, currently the betting favorite in Vegas to replace Payne. Other high-profile possibilities include FAU’s Dusty May, USF’s Amir Abdur-Rahim, and Indiana State’s Josh Schertz. As Louisville looks to turn the page on the Payne era, the future holds promise for a program eager to reclaim its position among college basketball’s elite.
SI’s McGavic wrote that whoever the Cardinals pursue, that candidate “must come to grips with the fact that the position is much, much bigger than basketball.”
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