According to an AP source, Louisville has selected Pat Kelsey of Charleston to be the team’s head coach.

KY LOUISVILLE (AP) — According to a person with direct knowledge of the matter who spoke to The Associated Press, Louisville and College of Charleston coach Pat Kelsey have reached an agreement for Kelsey to become the Cardinals’ next men’s basketball coach.

The individual spoke on condition of anonymity on Wednesday because the transaction has not received official approval. At its practice facility, Louisville has planned a news conference for this Thursday.

The hire was initially reported by Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman.

After Louisville’s first-ever head coach, Kenny Payne, went 12-52 in his final two seasons as head coach, Payne was sacked on March 13. After missing the NCAA Tournament in 2021, it concluded the third consecutive losing season and the worst two-year run in the program’s illustrious history.

After Hall of Famer Rick Pitino was sacked by Louisville in October 2017 amid a federal investigation into collegiate basketball corruption, 48-year-old Kelsey will take over as the team’s third head coach overall. Josh Heird, the athletic director of the Cardinals, hired men’s basketball for the second time. Following Payne’s terrible record, Heird had higher expectations for the program’s comeback to relevance.

However, Kelsey has expertise and a track record of success as a coach at Winthrop and Charleston, unlike Payne.