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How Kenny Payne’s Season Compares With Other First-Year Coaches

By Peyton Powell

LOUISVILLE, KY - JANUARY 03: Head coach Kenny Payne of the Louisville Cardinals is seen during the game against against the Syracuse Orange at KFC YUM! Center on January 3, 2023 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KY - JANUARY 03: Head coach Kenny Payne of the Louisville Cardinals is seen during the game against against the Syracuse Orange at KFC YUM! Center on January 3, 2023 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Key Takeaways and Conclusions

Louisville Head Coach Kenny Payne is not the only first-year head coach struggling in their opening season at a historically successful college basketball program. Payne as well as Villanova’s Kyle Neptune and Florida’s Todd Golden have not quite managed to achieve the success that their teams’ fans have grown accustomed to over the years.

Meanwhile, other first-year head coaches, such as Duke’s Jon Scheyer, have had greater success in year one but have also greatly benefited from much more favorable circumstances.

On the other hand, there have also been a few new head coaches who have managed to take over and completely change the trajectory of their programs. Xavier’s Sean Miller, Kansas State’s Jerome Tang, and Maryland’s Kevin Willard all are on track to lead their teams back to the NCAA Tournament after disenchanting 2021-2022 campaigns.

In hindsight, a more accomplished and experienced head coach may have been able to step in immediately, stop the bleeding, and help the UofL basketball program get out of the ACC’s basement.

However, plenty of college basketball’s most successful coaches throughout history have struggled in their opening season at the helm. The list below shows some examples of national champion head coaches in college basketball who had disappointing first seasons with their teams.

  • Dean Smith (North Carolina): 8-9 overall record in the 1961-1962 season
  • John Thompson (Georgetown): 12-14 overall record in the 1972-1973 season
  • Rollie Massimino (Villanova): 7-19 overall record in the 1973-1974 season
  • Jim Valvano (NC State): 14-13 overall record in the 1980-1981 season
  • Mike Krzyzewski (Duke): 17-13 overall record in the 1980-1981 season
  • Lute Olson (Arizona): 11-17 overall record in the 1983-1984 season
  • Nolan Richardson (Arkansas): 12-16 overall record in the 1985-1986 season
  • Jim Calhoun (UConn): 9-19 overall record in the 1986-1987 season
  • Tom Izzo (Michigan State): 16-16 overall record in the 1995-1996 season
  • Billy Donovan (Florida): 13-17 overall record in the 1996-1997 season
  • Rick Pitino (Louisville): 19-13 overall record in the 2001-2002 season
  • Scott Drew (Baylor): 8-21 overall record in the 2003-2004 season
  • Tony Bennett (Virginia): 15-16 overall record in the 2009-2010 season

Each of these coaches missed the NCAA tournament in their opening seasons with programs that they eventually went on to win NCAA Tournament championships with later on in their careers.

It should be noted that the NCAA transfer rule change in 2021, no longer requiring transfer players to redshirt a full season before becoming eligible at their new school, seems to make it easier for head coaches in today’s game to have an immediate impact in their first season with a new team.

And obviously, the vast majority of all new college basketball coaches do not go on to have anywhere near the success of guys like Dean Smith, Jim Calhoun, and Mike Krzyzewski. That said, imagine for a minute if these legendary coaches were not given the extra time needed to help their programs reach new heights and accomplish previously unimaginable goals.

It seems fairly common for first-year head coaches, both throughout history as well as those in recent years, to get off to poor starts before eventually finding their footing.

As a result, although it is completely understandable for Louisville fans to be incredibly frustrated and unsatisfied with the current state of the men’s basketball program, Kenny Payne seems to deserve at least a little more time to try and right the ship for his alma mater.

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