Report: Louisville to hire Kenny Payne as next head coach

Louisville will reportedly name New York Knicks assistant Kenny Payne as its next head coach later this week, according to multiple reports.

CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein was first to report:

Payne was a popular name in this search almost immediately after the school parted ways with Chris Mack earlier this season. Payne is a Louisville alum who also has extensive coaching experience.

He worked under John Calipari at Kentucky for over a decade and has spent the past two seasons with the New York Knicks.

Payne has the reputation of an elite recruiter and certainly has plenty of regional ties. He was on Louisville’s 1986 National Championship team. He was also an assistant on Kentucky’s 2012 title squad.

Louisville currently has three commitments in the class of 2022

. Payne could choose to make a late run at players in this cycle or pursue the transfer portal for more additions later this summer.

Louisville’s board of directors is expected to approving Payne’s hiring on Friday morning at a 9 a.m. meeting. The school has called a press conference for 10 a.m.