Kenny Payne is reportedly considering taking legal measures against the Louisville basketball program

Louisville, Kentucky – The era of Kenny Payne leading the Louisville men’s basketball program has officially concluded.

On Wednesday, Athletic Director Josh Heird announced that the University of Louisville had informed Payne that he would not be returning as the head coach next season. Louisville will begin a national search for the next head coach immediately.

Heird stated, “Kenny has contributed significantly to this university over nearly 40 years, and he will always be an esteemed member of our Louisville community. When we brought Kenny back in 2022, I had strong confidence in his potential success, but it has become evident that a change is necessary to help the program reach its expected goals.”

Payne assumed the role after UofL and former head coach Chris Mack parted ways in January 2022. His hiring was highly praised locally and nationally, with expectations of restoring the Cardinals to their former prominence.

However, Payne’s tenure at Louisville has been marked by significant struggles. In his two-year tenure, he accumulated a meager 12-52 record, including a dismal 5-35 record in regular-season ACC games and a winless streak in Quad 1 NET games.

His winning percentage of .186 ranks among the lowest in the history of Louisville basketball coaches. Last season, the team endured one of its worst performances, finishing with just four wins and setting records for futility.

Despite hopes for improvement in the 2023-24 season with a revamped roster, the team’s performance continued to disappoint. Louisville finished with an 8-24 record, marking back-to-back 20-loss seasons for the first time in program history.

While Payne’s recruiting abilities were a factor in his hiring, recent efforts on the recruiting trail have been underwhelming. The team’s struggles in recruiting for the Class of 2024 highlight ongoing challenges.

Payne, a former player for Louisville who contributed to a national championship in 1986, had previously served as an assistant coach with the New York Knicks and Kentucky Wildcats before taking on the head coaching role at Louisville.