Kenny Payne
Kenny Payne | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 25, 1966 United States |
| Occupation(s) | Basketball coach, former professional player |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Known for | Associate head coach for Arkansas Razorbacks, former head coach at University of Louisville, NBA player |
Kenneth Victor Payne (born November 25, 1966) is an American basketball coach at the collegiate level and a former professional player. Currently, he holds the position of associate head coach for the Arkansas Razorbacks. Payne’s coaching career includes a previous head coaching role at the University of Louisville and two seasons as an assistant coach with the New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association (NBA). As a player, he was a and small forward, competing collegiately for Louisville and contributing to their 1986 NCAA championship victory. He entered the NBA as the 19th overall pick in the 1989 NBA draft, selected by the Philadelphia 76ers.
Playing career
Payne’s collegiate tenure at the University of Louisville spanned from 1986 until 1989, highlighted by a national championship win during his freshman year against Duke. Starting in his final two seasons, he averaged 10.7 points and 5 rebounds per game as a junior, improving to 14.5 points and 5.7 rebounds in his senior year while shooting an efficient 51% from the field and 43% from beyond the arc. In his concluding season, Louisville secured the Metro Conference tournament title, finished ranked 12th in the final polls, and advanced to the Sweet 16 round.
Over four seasons in the NBA (1989–1992) with Philadelphia, Payne posted averages of 3.5 points and 1.2 rebounds per contest. He was released in January 1993 as a cost-saving measure since he was not projected to be part of the regular rotation, saving approximately $250,000. Beyond his NBA career, Payne competed professionally internationally in countries including Italy, Japan, Brazil, the Philippines, Cyprus, China, Argentina, and Australia. Following his NBA stint, he spent the 1993–94 season in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) with the Tri-City Chinook, where he averaged 16.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.
Coaching career
From 2004 through 2009, Payne served as an assistant coach at the University of Oregon. Subsequently, he joined the coaching staff at the University of Kentucky, acting as assistant coach from 2010 to 2014 before being promoted to associate head coach from 2014 until 2020. In 2012, he was among candidates interviewed for the head coaching role at Mississippi State University, although he was not selected.
On August 11, 2020, Payne was appointed assistant coach for the New York Knicks under head coach Tom Thibodeau.
Payne was named head men's basketball coach at the University of Louisville on March 18, 2022. His debut season concluded with only four victories—the lowest win total in recent Louisville history. By autumn of 2023, mounting dissatisfaction among supporters resulted in petitions and social media efforts demanding his dismissal.
He achieved his first road victory on January 10, 2024, with a win over Miami.
Following the completion of the 2023–24 campaign, Louisville relieved Payne of his duties after compiling an overall record of 12–52 across two seasons and a conference record of 5–35 in ACC play; during both years, the Cardinals finished at the bottom of their conference standings.
In April 2024, Payne accepted a position as associate head coach with Arkansas.
Personal life
Payne is married to Michelle; together they have two children. Their son Zan played collegiate basketball for the Louisville Cardinals men's basketball program.