Louisville’s Kenny Payne Ripped for Passing Blame at Final Presser Before Reported Firing

He pointed the blame to others when asked why he should be brought back for a third season.

After Louisville’s men’s basketball season came to a merciful end Tuesday, it was reported the program had decided to fire coach Kenny Payne after just two seasons and the internet couldn’t help but rip him for what ended up being his final press conference with the program. 

The Cardinals lost to NC State 94–85 in the ACC tournament Tuesday to finish the season 8–24, leaving Payne with a coaching record of 12–52 in just two years at Louisville. When talking to reporters after the loss, he was asked how he would make a case to be brought back for a third season given his coaching record and the dismal fan attendance. 

His answer rubbed a lot of college basketball fans the wrong way. 

Maybe after you go 12-52 in two seasons at Louisville, don't act like it's everyone's fault but your own.

Thought this answer at Kenny Payne's press conference tonight was embarrassing. Blamed everyone else and took zero accountability of his own. pic.twitter.com/4UBif9XMtJ

— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) March 13, 2024

“When I walked into the program as a new head coach, I talked about I needed everybody on the same page—we sort of forgot that,” Payne said with a smile. “I talked about how I’m not gonna let you blame me. I’m not standing up here by myself. I need all of Louisville with me—we sort of forgot that. I talked about, ‘It’s gon’ take time, and I’mma watch and see who jumped on and off the Titanic.’ We sort of forgot that.”  

He also recalled saying it would take three to four years to “fix this program” and that he stood by that timeline. Fans were livid at Payne for pointing the blame toward the community and his players in what appears to have been his last presser with the program. They also found it ironic and hilarious how he used a metaphor where the team was the Titanic and he criticized those who abandoned it. Yes, the same Titanic famous for sinking. 

• Forde: It’s Time for Louisville to Get Its Men’s Basketball Coaching Hire Right

Here are some of the best reactions to Payne’s final farewell to Louisville. 

oh, they should have gone out and fired him right after this, since everybody was there anyway. https://t.co/9LDoPiYNTz

— bomani (@bomani_jones) March 13, 2024

Wait why would anyone want to jump ON the Titanic? And why is he equating their basketball program to the Titanic? Freudian slip? https://t.co/R8FVB0XnxT pic.twitter.com/CMeWeDE3wq

— KYShaunT (@KYShaunT1) March 13, 2024

Safe to say his answer is…not going over well. https://t.co/QeEYEtg17L

— Tyler Greever (@Tyler_Greever) March 13, 2024

I see Kenny Payne is starting to go viral here for probably the worst reason of all the reasons he went viral. Now the college basketball world can see what we went through pretty much every presser, let alone the product on the floor https://t.co/qpiRgfElQw

— Kevin Skaggs (@LouisvillesKev) March 13, 2024

Coach that compares his basketball team to the Titanic forgets that the captain of the titanic went down with his ship. https://t.co/rDwdDlzAcB

— Keith Black Trudeau (@Charlottean28) March 13, 2024

Kenny Payne isn't familiar with the ending of Titanic https://t.co/HZngs9Lpqa

— Bobby Bancroft (@BobbyBancroft) March 13, 2024

Referring as your program as “The Titanic” probably isn’t a good look to stakeholders…. Just my opinion. https://t.co/oau6RXupNX

— Sherlock_Phox (@Sherlock_Phox) March 13, 2024

love that this is the 2nd time he has referenced the titanic like it didn’t actually sink https://t.co/yGAU2ormsX

— Nolan (@NationWideNolan) March 13, 2024