Jeff Goodman recently released his list of the top 20 worst coaching hires in college basketball since 2000.
Unfortunately, Kenny Payne (Louisville) is No. 1 on the list.
Former Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie managed to make the list twice.
Here are some excerpts:
1) Kenny Payne, Louisville
Hired: 2022
Record: 10-38, 3-22 (1-plus season)
Winning Percentage: 21%
Postseason: None
AD Responsible: Then-interim and now current AD Josh Heird
Payne seemed like the perfect choice, and he had complete support to take over the program as a former Louisville star who played in the NBA and then worked as a longtime college assistant (at Oregon and later at Kentucky with John Calipari). Prior to taking over the Cardinals, Payne had been working as an assistant coach with the New York Knicks. In March 2022, he replaced Chris Mack in Louisville — and he’s been beyond miserable. The Cardinals won only four games in his first season, and they are 6-10 this season with back-to-back losses at DePaul and at home against Arkansas State. It’s almost unfathomable how low Payne has taken this once storied program that has won three national titles.
4) Billy Gillispie, Texas Tech
Hired: 2011
Record: 8-23, 1-17 (1 season)
Winning Percentage: 26%
Postseason: None
AD Responsible: Kirby Hocutt
Texas Tech hired Gillispie to replace Pat Knight, and it was a complete disaster. Gillispie had fallen flat in his brief stint at Kentucky, and he resigned in Lubbock after going 1-17 in league play amidst allegations of player and staff mistreatment. The fallout inspired headlines such as “Billy Gillispie’s Rise to Stardom and Tragic Fall from Grace,” with his brief tenure described in media reports as “volatile and disappointing.”
12) Billy Gillispie, Kentucky
Hired: 2007
Record: 40-27, 20-12 (2 seasons)
Winning Percentage: 60%
Postseason: 1 NCAA, 1 NIT
AD Responsible: Mitch Barnhart
Billy Clyde is the only coach to make multiple appearances on this list. Gillispie was fired after just two seasons in Lexington, and it was apparent almost immediately that he wasn’t the right fit in the fishbowl that is Lexington. Hired to replace Tubby Smith, Gillispie lost 14 games in his second season as the Wildcats failed to make the NCAA tourney for the first time in more than 15 years. AD Mitch Barnhart made up for his mistake by hiring John Calipari to replace Gillispie, who was an absolutely terrible fit from the start.
