Former Louisville coach Kenny Payne joins John Calipari’s staff at Arkansas

Arkansas hired Kenny Payne as associate coach, reuniting him with new Razorbacks coach John Calipari.

Payne was released by Louisville in March after going 12-52 during his two seasons as head coach.

Between 2010 and 2020, Payne was an assistant and later associate head coach under Calipari at Kentucky. The two helped the Wildcats win a national title in 2012, reach another championship game in 2014 and appear in four Final Fours.

At Kentucky, Payne was known for developing talent and helping the program offer solid recruiting classes. Former Wildcat and four-time NBA All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns said Atlético in 2019 that Payne is “one of the best developmental coaches in the world” and “the horse beneath the jockey who runs Kentucky basketball.”

Recruiting will be vital now for Arkansas as only one player is currently listed in the men’s national team list. But Calipari’s departure from Kentucky could be a boost for the Razorbacks in more ways than one.

Five players from Kentucky’s six-member 2024 recruiting class have decommitted since Calipari’s departure. Wildcats freshman Zvonimir Ivisic was one of five players signed up the transfer portal this spring. So far, Ivisic is the only one who has said he is headed to Arkansas.