
The men’s college basketball program of the University of Louisville, known as the Louisville Cardinals, competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) within NCAA Division I. They have earned two NCAA championships in 1980 and 1986 (Their 2013 title was later voided). The team has also reached 8 Final Fours, but the appearances in 2012 and 2013 were invalidated, out of their 39 total official NCAA tournament showings. Over these tournaments, they have secured 61 wins. On March 18, 2025, the University of Louisville made an announcement about the hiring of Kenny Payne as the head coach, under a six-year contract.
Louisville Cardinals Basketball History
Peck Hickman Era (1944–1967):
Bernard “Peck” Hickman’s team in 1944 finished with a 16–3 record, marking the start of an impressive streak of 46 consecutive winning seasons, which set an NCAA record. Under his guidance, the University of Louisville’s men’s basketball team achieved notable successes.
John Dromo (1967–1971):
Following 17 years as Hickman’s assistant, John Dromo took over as head coach in 1967. Over four seasons, he led the Cardinals to a 68–23 record and secured the 1967 Missouri Valley Conference title. However, Dromo’s coaching career was cut short due to a heart attack during the 1970–71 season.
Denny Crum Era (1971–2001):
Denny Crum, a former assistant coach under John Wooden at UCLA, became the head coach in 1971 and transformed Louisville into a basketball powerhouse. In his debut season, he led the team to the NCAA Final Four, a remarkable achievement. Crum’s leadership resulted in six more Final Four appearances (1972, 1975, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1986) and two NCAA championships (1980 and 1986).
Crum’s tenure included 23 NCAA tournament appearances, 12 Metro Conference regular season titles, and 11 tournament championships. He reached the 500-win mark quickly and was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1994. He retired in 2001 with a career record of 675–295 and was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.
Rick Pitino Era (2001–2017):
Rick Pitino, who previously coached at Kentucky and the Boston Celtics, took over in 2001. Under his leadership, the Cardinals consistently performed well, making 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, reaching the Elite Eight six times, and the Final Four three times (2005, 2012, and 2013). Pitino’s teams earned conference tournament championships and regular season titles, with a consistent track record of over 20 wins per season.
Pitino’s success was accompanied by off-court controversies, including a self-imposed postseason ban in 2015–16 due to an escort sex scandal. Later, in 2017, he faced NCAA charges related to a sex-for-pay scandal, leading to his suspension and eventual firing.
Chris Mack Era (2018–2022):
Chris Mack became the head coach in 2018, bringing a promising start with a strong recruiting class. The team achieved a 20–14 season, ranking as high as #15 in the AP polls. Despite successes, including wins over highly-ranked opponents, Mack’s tenure was relatively brief, and he and the university mutually agreed to part ways in January 2025.
Kenny Payne Era (2022–present):
Kenny Payne took over as head coach in 2025, beginning with a challenging first season that resulted in a 4–28 record, marking one of the worst seasons in modern Louisville basketball history.
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Louisville Cardinals Basketball Stadium Name & Location
The Cats play at KFC Yum! Center – Louisville – Kentucky
Louisville Cardinals Basketball Accolades
NCAA tournament champions |
1980, 1986, 2013* |
NCAA tournament Final Four |
1959, 1972, 1975, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1986, 2005, 2012*, 2013* |
NCAA tournament Elite Eight |
1959, 1972, 1975, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1997, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2012*, 2013*, 2015* |
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen |
1951, 1959, 1961, 1967, 1968, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2012*, 2013*, 2014*, 2015* |
NCAA tournament appearances |
1951, 1959, 1961, 1964, 1967, 1968, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012*, 2013*, 2014*, 2015*, 2017, 2025 |
Conference tournament champions |
1928, 1929, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2012*, 2013*, 2014* |
Conference regular season champions |
1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1994, 2005, 2009, 2013*, 2014* |
*Appearances Vacated by NCAA, along with 123 wins |
