According to sources speaking to CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander, Louisville has extended an offer to Pat Kelsey of Charleston to become its next basketball coach, and the two parties are very close to an agreement that would see Kelsey replace Kenny Payne.
The two significant contenders for Louisville’s job, Indiana State coach Josh Schertz and Kelsey, were having talks with Louisville on Wednesday. Schertz, whose Sycamores club is still in the NIT, made the decision that he was not interested, though. It made it possible for Kelsey to accept the position should he choose to once Louisville and Kelsey have negotiated the terms.
A day after rumors surfaced that Richard Pitino of New Mexico was a major target for Louisville, Jon Rothstein said on Wednesday that Kelsey and Louisville will reach an agreement “barring something unforeseen”. But sources tell Norlander that as of right now, the Cardinals have not formally hired anyone.
Over the course of her three seasons at Charleston, Kelsey has amassed a 74-27 record and led the Cougars to two straight trips to the NCAA Tournament.
Kelsey, 48, began his collegiate coaching career in 2004 as an assistant coach at Wake Forest. He worked with the team for five seasons before taking a position as associate head coach at his alma mater, Xavier. Before accepting the position at Charleston, Kelsey spent nine seasons as the head coach at Winthrop, where he finished with a 186-95 record.
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Charleston had a 27-8 record at the end of the 2023–24 season and lost to Alabama 109–96 in the NCAA Tournament first round last week.
After Payne’s two miserable seasons with the team, Louisville dismissed him earlier this month. After finishing 4-28 in Payne’s debut season, the Cardinals doubled their number of wins this season with an 8-24 record. After taking over for former coach Chris Mack in 2022, Payne ended his tenure at the school with a 12-52 record.
Mack was the Xavier coach that Kelsey worked under. Beginning in 2004 as an assistant, Mack rose to the position of head man with the Musketeers in 2009, the year Kelsey joined the team.
