Kentucky Basketball: Could the Cats lose Kenny Payne to … rival Louisville?

[Matt Dillon]

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky basketball fans have long feared losing assistant coach Kenny Payne, John Calipari’s right-hand man, ace recruiter and developer of the Wildcats’ big men, to a head-coaching opportunity. But what if they lost him to … Louisville?
That possibility popped up this week when veteran columnist Rick Bozich reported Wednesday that a group of former Cardinals players from the 1980s — Payne played at U of L from 1985-89 — have decided he’s their guy. Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino was fired in the wake of a pay-for-play scandal uncovered by the FBI, so U of L is playing this season under an interim head coach, David Padgett.
“Hiring Kenny would bring the players, the fans and the city together again,” Billy Thompson, a teammate of Payne’s on the Cards’ 1986 national championship team, told Bozich.

https://www.seccountry.com/kentucky/kentucky-uk-basketball-calipari-talks-kenny-payne-louisville

[Dwight Schrute]

Hard to see that happening unless more seasoned candidates don't work out for them, but it would suck to lose KP to the Cards. I wouldn't have the same animosity towards him as I did Pitino, though.

[Matt Dillon]

I wouldn't have the same animosity towards him as I did Pitino, though.

Interesting comment, especially considering coach Pitino didn't leave UK for UofL. Would you care to elaborate?

[Joneslab]

Would be a terrible move for Payne because the coach at UofL is going to be put into an unwinnable situation. UofL is about to get stone-cold awful. No coach will survive that.

I hope Payne gets a head coaching job somewhere else though and I hope he kills it. Guy deserves it after the work he's put in.

I'd rather be an assistant at UK than a head coach at most of these mid-majors. There's much more stability. The money is about the same. The admiration is way higher. Would be one of the best jobs in sports.

Unfortunately Payne's window is closing because Cal is likely nearing the end of his run.

[Uncle Dave]

Is it even remotely possible Payne replaces Calipari????

[Lighthouse]

Is it even remotely possible Payne replaces Calipari????

I would have to think about that possibility. Even though Payne is a top notch assistant coach, doesn't mean he could handle the Head Coaching Job at Kentucky.

[TrueblueCATfan]

I hope Kenny Payne stays at UK.....reading a lot of UL fans comments and they don't want him....one fan Said....we don't want anyone connected to PAY PAL CAL

[Joneslab]

Is it even remotely possible Payne replaces Calipari????

Probably the only way it would happen is if Cal had to step down because of some sort of emergency and the timing left Kentucky in the lurch. Otherwise you have to go with someone who has high-level head coaching experience.

[George]

I still hope we call Jay Wright when the time comes.

[UK8STL11]

I still hope we call Jay Wright when the time comes.

Agreed. But, he has built Nova into a top tier program and is paid like it. I don't see him leaving. But, I know Duke would go after him hard when K leaves.

I think Wright is right there with Cal and K in terms of best 3-4 coaches in the game.

[Blue Heaven]

Interesting comment, especially considering coach Pitino didn't leave UK for UofL. Would you care to elaborate?

Probably because Pitino is a first rate prick. Payne seems very likeable.

[BobS]

No way UL takes Payne, imo. When they get all of their mess decided, they shoul and will go after a bigger name. I think Chris Mack eventually ends up there. But if they get some big punishment, Padgett may go another year before it happens.

I don't think KP will ever coach here unless he goes somewhere else and cuts his teeth as a HC first.