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Kenny Payne believes he's found 'the right fit' at Arkansas after parting ways with Louisville

Payne said the decision to part ways with his alma mater was mutual, but said he had college and professional job offers on the table following his exit.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Three months have passed since Kenny Payne was fired as Louisville men’s basketball coach.

Payne, spoke briefly to Hogs Plus about his exit and what happened before he found a new place to call home.

He said the decision to part ways with his alma mater was mutual, but said he had college and NBA job offers on the table.

“You question yourself as a coach and then when it’s over, the conversations that happen around the country – numerous NBA teams, numerous college teams and programs [said] ‘Kenny we want you to be a part of what we’re doing. We know exactly what happened.’ Then you realize you was really on the right page,” Payne explained.

A month after he was let go from Louisville, Payne found himself back with his friend and current head coach at Arkansas, John Calipari. He worked as Calipari’s assistant for 10 years at Kentucky.

Payne believes it was all about finding the right fit and having a connection to his new home.

“For me – making sure that I went to a place that was a fit was probably the biggest thing. John Calipari and I are close friends. I love working for him, working with him, [and] I love taking care of kids. I have a dear friend in John Tyson that lives here, so it was a fit. I love this program. I love what its done,” he said.

Louisville has bought out the remainder of Payne’s contract and will pay him a total of $7,250,000 which will equal to about $201,388 monthly until March 31, 2027.

Payne had a 12-52 record at Louisville over two seasons.

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