After weeks of speculation, the news was all but confirmed Wednesday afternoon. Kenny Payne is expected to be announced as Louisville’s next head basketball coach Friday morning. A former pupil of John Calipari’s, Payne served as his right-hand man for a decade in Lexington. Before opening NCAA Tournament play against Saint Peters, Kentucky’s head coach gave his friend a ringing endorsement.
“First of all, he’s a dear friend and I will tell you that they could not hire anybody that will do a better job than Kenny Payne. “A great coach, great human being, great husband, great father and a Louisville graduate,”Calipari said.