By SEAN BOCK
After firing Rick Pitino in the wake of a pay-for-play scandal revealed by the U.S. Department of Justice, Louisville has promoted assistant coach David Padgett to interim head coach of the basketball program.
“It’s not going to be easy,” Padgett said at a press conference. “It’s a very tumultuous time.”
Padgett, 32, was the starting center for the Cardinals from 2005-08 and has been involved with the Louisville staff for the past three seasons.
He was the Director of Basketball Operations from 2014-16 before being named assistant coach in 2016. Padgett also served as an assistant coach at IUPUI from 2011-2014 after playing two seasons of pro ball in the Canary Islands.
“I love David Padgett like my son,” Pitino reportedly told WAVE 3. “He will be awesome for the players and the program. Selfless leader as a player and he will do the same as a coach.”
David Padgett speaking after the press conference. @WDRBNews pic.twitter.com/FY4GJAiSAW
— Kyle Mitchell WDRB (@JournalistKyle) September 29, 2017
Padgett is the third Louisville head basketball coach in the last 46 years, following Pitino and Denny Crum.
Padgett was also represented during his playing days by agent Andy Miller, whose office was raided this week by the FBI. Padgett told reporters in Louisville he only hears from Miller once a year on his birthday.
The Cardinals have lost two recruits in the past week, Anfernee Simons and Courtney Ramey, and five-star recruit Romeo Langford has cut Louisville from his final list of schools.
New statement from #RickPitino as @uofl hires #DavidPadgett to serve as acting head coach. @WDRBNews pic.twitter.com/puCWY04TZL
— Kyle Mitchell WDRB (@JournalistKyle) September 29, 2017
Photo: The Cardinal Connect
