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
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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.