“Heartbreak in Louisville: Coach Pat Kelsey Faces Unexpected Exit”
Before delving into Kelsey’s contract details, consider this: Kenny Payne, his predecessor, had a base salary of $3.35 million, making him the fourth highest-paid coach in the ACC at the time. Additionally, Louisville reported spending $7.45 million on severance for Payne and his staff during the 2024 fiscal year after the program suffered its first consecutive seasons with 20 or more losses in its 111-year history.
Before Payne, former coach Chris Mack was earning $4.3 million before his departure in January 2022.
When asked about the salary difference between Payne and Kelsey, Louisville athletics director Josh Heird explained that it was based on the circumstances surrounding each coach.
“We did our due diligence in evaluating the transition from a mid-major to a Power Five program and examined the salary trends for coaches making that leap,” Heird said during Kelsey’s introduction. “We analyzed salaries from about 20 to 25 coaches who made similar moves, and Pat’s compensation aligns with those averages.”
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