x
Breaking News
More () »

'Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat.' Kentucky's Kenny Payne hired as Knicks assistant coach

Kenny Payne has spent the last 10 years at Kentucky, where he has been John Calipari’s associate head coach since 2014.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Tom Thibodeau has made the first addition to his New York Knicks coaching staff. He hired Kenny Payne as an assistant. 

Payne has spent the last 10 years at Kentucky, where he has been John Calipari’s associate head coach since 2014. 

He was part of the staff that won the 2012 national championship and won its first 38 games in 2014-15.

The Wildcats reached four Final Fours and won 295 games with Payne working under Calipari. The 53-year-old Payne also spent five seasons as an assistant with Oregon. 

He will be reunited with former Wildcats Julius Randle and Kevin Knox in New York. 

Kentucky men's basketball posted this video on Facebook thanking Payne for his time there.

Kenny Payne Accepts Position with New York Knicks

Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat. Thanks for so many amazing memories, Coach Kenny Payne. Good luck with the New York Knicks.

Posted by Kentucky Basketball on Tuesday, August 11, 2020

►Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.

Before You Leave, Check This Out