Pat Kelsey

Louisville head coach Pat Kelsey yells during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against the Clemson in the semifinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

First-year coaches Pope and Kelsey oversee quick turnarounds for Kentucky and Louisville

Turns out hiring a new coach can lead to quick turnarounds, especially in this day and age of the transfer portal and NIL. Programs just have to make the right decision. Louisville and Kentucky sure look like they did just that.
 
Louisville celebrates after their win as Stanford forward Chisom Okpara react after an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament, Thursday, March 13, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Hepburn’s buzzer-beater lifts No. 13 Louisville to another big moment in Kelsey-led resurgence

 
Duke's Cooper Flagg (2) reacts after a play during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Wake Forest in Durham, N.C., Monday, March 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

Duke’s Cooper Flagg, Louisville’s Pat Kelsey headline list of AP all-ACC award winners

 
Duke forward Cooper Flagg (2) dunks during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against North Carolina, Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)

Duke’s Flagg headlines ACC’s list of individual award winners

 
California guard DJ Campbell (3) shoots over Louisville guard Reyne Smith (6) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Louisville, Ky., Wednesday, March 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)

Louisville’s Reyne Smith leaves game with lower leg injury in game against Cal

 

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Smith, Scott lead Louisville to its first season-sweep of Virginia since joining the ACC

 
Georgia forward Asa Newell (14) reacts to a win against Kentucky after an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Back-to-back wins vs. AP Top 25 opponents put Georgia in the poll. Things don’t get any easier

 
North Carolina State head coach Kevin Keatts directs his team in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Wake Forest, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, at the Joel Coliseum in Winston-Salem, N.C. (Allison Lee IsleyThe Winston-Salem Journal via AP)

ACC’s shaky nonconference showing creates NCAA bid drama as bulk of league play arrives

 

Reyne Smith, Aboubacar Traore help Louisville end long skid against Virginia with 70-50 rout

 
Kentucky's Lamont Butler holds up his championship belt after an NCAA college basketball game against Louisville in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/James Crisp)

Bluegrass rivalry enters new era with No. 5 Kentucky and Louisville led by Mark Pope and Pat Kelsey

 

Louisville extends athletic director Josh Heird for 5 years through June 2030

 
Duke guard Cooper Flagg, right, attempts to get past Louisville guard J'Vonne Hadley, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Louisville, Ky., Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)

No. 9 Duke rallies past Louisville 76-65 in ACC opener

 
Louisville men's NCAA college basketball coach Pat Kelsey speaks to reporters during the team's annual media day, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024 in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Gary B. Graves)

Louisville begins rebuild under Pat Kelsey with overhauled roster, expectations of postseason return

 
FILE - Charleston head coach Pat Kelsey signals his team during the first half of a first-round college basketball game against Alabama in the NCAA Tournament in Spokane, Wash., Friday, March 22, 2024. Kelsey knew he had to hit the ground running in taking over Louisville's men's basketball program, and he hasn't stopped. The former coach at College of Charleston has built a Cardinals roster with 12 transfers, including three from his old program, and brought along many of his Cougars assistants. (AP Photo/Young Kwak, File)

Pat Kelsey has worked fast to build staff, roster and grasp Louisville’s basketball legacy

 
FILE - Louisville head coach Chris Mack directs his team during an NCAA college basketball intrasquad scrimmage in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021. College of Charleston has hired former Louisville coach Chris Mack as its men's coach after its last coach in Pat Kelsey left to take the Cardinals job last week. Athletic director Matt Roberts said Tuesday, April 2, 2024, that Mack agreed to a five-year contract to take over the program. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, File)

Charleston hires ex-Louisville coach Chris Mack to take over for new Cardinals coach Pat Kelsey

 
Charleston head coach Pat Kelsey reacts during the first half of a first-round college basketball game against Alabama in the NCAA Tournament in Spokane, Wash., Friday, March 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Pat Kelsey is introduced as Louisville’s basketball coach, calling it ‘the ultimate job’

 
Charleston head coach Pat Kelsey reacts during the first half of a first-round college basketball game against Alabama in the NCAA Tournament in Spokane, Wash., Friday, March 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Louisville tabs Charleston’s Pat Kelsey to become Cardinals’ head coach, AP source says