Arkansas has hired Kenny Payne as associate head coach, reuniting him with new Razorbacks head coach John Calipari.
Payne was fired 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 deliver strong recruiting classes. Former Wildcat and four-time NBA All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns told The Athletic in 2019 that Payne is “one of the best development coaches in the world” and “the horse under the jockey driving Kentucky basketball.”
Recruiting will now be critical for Arkansas as there is currently only one player on the men’s team roster. But Calipari’s departure from Kentucky could be a boost for the Razorbacks in more ways than one.
Five players from Kentucky’s six-man 2024 recruiting class have opted out since Calipari’s departure. Wildcats freshman Zvonimir Ivisic was one of five players to enter the transfer portal this spring. So far, Ivisic is the only one who has said he is going to Arkansas.
