Could Nolan Smith Return to Louisville's Staff Next Season?

Nolan Smith could return to the sidelines next season

Feb 17, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA;  Louisville Cardinals assistant coach Nolan Smith
Feb 17, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Louisville Cardinals assistant coach Nolan Smith | Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Louisville basketball seems to be getting back on track with Pat Kelsey now at the helm. While Kelsey's roster and staff is getting worked out from day to day a lot of Cardinal are wondering if former assistant coach Nolan Smith would come back to help Kelsey coach on the sidelines.

Smith was a national champion at Duke and was on the sidelines with coach k at Duke as well. Kenny Payne stole Smith from Duke and for the past 2 years he was on the sidelines coaching with Payne.

Things clearly have not gone as planned, as Payne was fired 3 weeks ago and that left Nolan out of a job. While fans have been clamoring for Smith to return on the sideline with Kelsey, it is looking unlikely at this point.

Kelsey will likely want to put a new staff together, with wanting to put the bad era of Louisville basketball behind him and leave him in the past. There has been little to no credible rumors/noise on Smith returning, even though Smith himself said that he could potentially be open to a return on the Cardinal Sports Zone Podcast.

We will see where Nolan will end up in college basketball soon, but it will likely not be on the Louisville sideline.