Cardinals Hire Pat Kelsey to Lead Men’s Basketball Program

Mark BlankenbakerMarch 28, 2024

Pat Kelsey, a proven program builder who’s won nearly 70% of his career games, has been named the new men’s basketball head coach at the University of Louisville, Director of Athletics Josh Heird announced Thursday.

Kelsey’s contract with the Cardinals will be for five years, extending through the 2028-29 season. The University of Louisville Athletic Association Board of Directors approved the terms of his contract Thursday afternoon.

Kelsey will be formally introduced at a press conference Thursday afternoon.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Pat Kelsey as our new men’s basketball coach,” Heird said. “Pat has proven his ability to build multiple programs to an elite level. He garners great respect as a coach, manager, communicator and motivator who will build strong bonds with his student-athletes, coaches and our fan base. Pat understands the expectations of this storied program and will attack this opportunity with unmatched enthusiasm and work ethic. We’re looking forward to having him, his wife Lisa and their children become part of the best community in college athletics.”

Kelsey has been a dominant winner across his 12 seasons as a head coach, including the last three at College of Charleston and the previous nine at Winthrop. He boasts an impressive 261-122 record (68.1%) across his head coaching career with 11 total conference championships and four NCAA Tournament bids.

The Cincinnati native Kelsey will be the 24^th head coach in Louisville’s 110-year history, and the 10th in the past 79 years.

“I am humbled and honored to be named the head coach at the University of Louisville,” Kelsey said. “I would like to thank Josh Heird, President Schatzel, the Board of Trustees and ULAA Board, former UofL players and all of Card Nation for entrusting me to lead one of the great programs in all of college basketball. Coaching giants that I have tremendous respect and reverence for led Cardinal basketball to national prominence during their era. It is my charge to help this great program return to its rightful place as one of college basketball’s best.”

This season, College of Charleston finished 27-8, claimed the Colonial Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles, and earned a No. 13 seed in the NCAA Tournament before falling to fourth-seeded Alabama.

The Cougars became the first team in seven years to win back-to-back Colonial titles. Kelsey was named the league’s Coach of the Year, in addition to three All-CAA player honors and a Sixth Man of the Year award for Bryce Butler.

College of Charleston ranks in the top 25 nationally this season in 3-point attempts per game (3rd, 30.6), made 3-pointers per game (8th, 10.5), bench points per game (11th, 30.1), winning percentage (18th, 77.1), rebounds per game (20th, 39.8), assist-to-turnover ratio (22nd, 1.5) and offensive rebounds per game (23rd, 13.1).

During his second season at the helm in Charleston, the Cougars set numerous records with a 31-4 mark and the program’s first CAA title since 2008. They won 20 straight games, claimed the 2022 Charleston Classic and spent four weeks in the AP Top 25, peaking at No. 18. Kelsey was named the USBWA and NABC District Coach of the Year, and was on the Naismith Coach of the Year Watch List.

Kelsey arrives in Charleston from Winthrop, where he became the fifth all-time winningest coach in the history of the Big South Conference. He averaged 20.7 wins per game in nine seasons in Rock Hill, S.C., compiling more overall wins and conference wins than any other team in the league.

In his final season at Winthrop, Kelsey guided the Eagles to a 23-2 campaign, a school-record 21-game win streak, a Big South tournament title and a trip to the NCAA Tournament where they fell to Villanova. Kelsey was named 2021 Big South Coach of the Year.

Kelsey also led Winthrop to NCAA Tournament berths in 2020 (canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic) and 2017.

A two-time finalist for the Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award and finalist for the 2021 Jim Phelan Coach of the Year Award, Kelsey compiled a 186-95 (.662) overall record and an impressive 110-46 (.705) mark in conference play at Winthrop. The Eagles also won the Big South regular-season title four times in 2016, 2017, 2020 and 2021.

In all, 16 Winthrop players were selected all-conference, while three were tabbed Big South Player of the Year, one Big South Freshman of the Year and two Big South Tournament Most Valuable Player honors.

Prior to Winthrop, Kelsey served as associate head coach at his alma mater Xavier from 2009-11. Before that, he worked at Wake Forest as assistant coach (2004-09) and director of basketball operations (2001-04). He began his coaching career at Elder High School in Cincinnati as an assistant from 1998-2001.

Kelsey graduated cum laude in 1998 from Xavier University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing. He began his collegiate playing career at the University of Wyoming, before transferring and playing three seasons at point guard for the Musketeers from 1995-98.

Kelsey and his wife, Lisa, have three children: Ruthie, Caroline and Johnny.

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Pat Kelsey Coaching Career

2024 Head Coach, University of Louisville

2021-24 Head Coach, College of Charleston

2012-21 Head Coach, Winthrop University

2009-11 Associate Head Coach, Xavier University

2004-09 Assistant Coach, Wake Forest University

2001-04 Director of Basketball Operations, Wake Forest University

1998-2001 Assistant Coach, Elder (Ohio) High School

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What They’re Saying About Pat Kelsey

Chris Paul, NBA Star & Former Wake Forest Guard

“Coach Kelsey is one of the most passionate coaches I’ve ever been around! From trying to guard me in practice and pushing me and my teammates to be the best version of ourselves, he will be a great addition and advocate for Louisville! Congrats Coach Kels!!”

Jay Bilas, ESPN

“I have known Pat Kelsey since he was a player for Skip Prosser at Xavier. Pat is the most passionate and energetic coach I’ve ever known, and his passion is contagious. He is a relentless worker and competitor, and a servant leader. Pat Kelsey knows how to win, and win the right way. He loves his players unconditionally, yet still holds them to the highest standards of excellence. They respond positively because they see championship behavior modeled every day by Pat, on and off the floor. Louisville has a proud tradition, and I am confident that Pat Kelsey will re-establish Louisville among the nation’s elite.”

Matt Roberts, College of Charleston AD

“Louisville Basketball and the city of Louisville got an absolute gem today in Pat Kelsey. He will win and win big for the Cardinals. Not only is he a tremendous teacher, he is an even better person. In short order, your community will come to see what we all experienced in Charleston … Pat is an elite basketball coach, amazing husband, father, and friend.”

Jeff Goodman, Basketball Analyst

“I know it’s not the biggest name, but I truly believe Pat Kelsey is perfect for this job – especially at this time. This program needs an energetic, organized, relentless guy who is a proven X’s and O’s guy. I would be beyond shocked if Kelsey doesn’t get this program back to its winning ways sooner rather than later.”