LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) -- A turbulent season both on and off the hardwood is now over for the Louisville men's basketball team. The coaching position is now vacant after interim head coach David Padgett announced he was not returning to the Cardinal sideline and big names have been dominating the rumor mill.
While the head coach may draw the headlines, the University of Louisville has another position it needs to fill - the athletics director. Vince Tyra took over the athletics department on an interim basis in October after the university fired longtime AD Tom Jurich, but the interim label could be coming off.
"He fits the profile of an outstanding University of Louisville athletics director," Bill Stone, a member of the University of Louisville Athletics Association board of directors, said. "Should he be appointed, I think he'll do a wonderful job and we will have a lot of historic success under his guidance."
Stone said Tyra has done a great job navigating the turbulent waters over the past few months, impressed by the rapport he has built with student-athletes, coaches and other members of the athletics department.
"I have a granddaughter who's a student-athlete who thinks the world of him," Stone said. "Consequently, I think Vince would fit the job like a glove."
All indications are the athletics association will recommend Tyra to the board of trustees for the permanent athletics director job. The board will then have to approve the recommendation before anything becomes official.
Tyra said the Louisville coaching job is desirable enough regardless of the athletics director when asked during Wednesday's news conference.
"Whether it's Scooby-Doo or Vince Tyra, I think they're interested in taking this job," he said.
But Stone said having a permanent athletics director in place is crucial in finding a coach.
"As great as Louisville's job would be, you want to make sure the guy that hires you, who has an understanding with you is going to be here," he said.
Stone said he has intentionally kept himself in the dark concerning the next Cardinals head coach, he said he does have a possible candidate for the future - a familiar face.
"[Padgett]'ll still be the same class gentleman he is today and he might be the next Louisville's coach someday down the line."
When asked about the permanent AD position Sunday afternoon after the Louisville women's basketball team punched a ticket to the Final Four, Tyra said he was more focused on celebrating the women's accomplishments and would not comment on the potential recommendation.