After an extensive search, the University of Louisville has finally found its next head basketball coach. According to sources, Pat Kelsey from Charleston has accepted Louisville's offer to lead the Cardinals' program, as reported by CBS Sports' Matt Norlander. The two parties have verbally agreed on a deal, and Kelsey is expected to be officially introduced as the new coach during a press conference scheduled for Wednesday.

Louisville engaged in discussions with Kelsey and Indiana State coach Josh Schertz before settling on Kelsey, according to Norlander. Athletic director Josh Heird invested significant time and effort evaluating both candidates. Although there were initial talks with Schertz, the potential deal fell through on Wednesday afternoon, ultimately opening the door for Kelsey to take the prestigious position.

The decision to hire Kelsey comes on the heels of reports suggesting that Richard Pitino from New Mexico was a top target for Louisville. However, Pitino's candidacy quickly diminished due to concerns about the potential pitfalls associated with another Pitino coaching the Cardinals. Rick Pitino, who coached Louisville from 2001 to 2017, left the program amid scandal and was later cleared in the FBI probe.

Prior to Kelsey's appointment, Louisville pursued Baylor coach Scott Drew and former FAU coach Dusty May. However, Drew chose to remain at Baylor, while May opted for Michigan over Louisville. Kelsey, who spent the past three seasons at Charleston in the CAA, arrives with an impressive track record. He compiled a 74-27 record with the Cougars, guiding them to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in the last two seasons.

Known for his relentless positive energy, the 48-year-old Kelsey began his coaching career as an assistant at Wake Forest in 2004. He subsequently served as the associate head coach at Xavier, his alma mater, under Chris Mack, who previously coached Louisville from 2018 until January 2022. Kelsey also had a successful nine-year stint at Winthrop, where he accumulated a 186-95 record before joining Charleston.

Under Kelsey's leadership, Charleston finished the 2023-24 season with a 27-8 record, reaching the NCAA Tournament's first round where they fell to Alabama. With a career winning percentage of .681, ranking among the top 20 active D-I men's coaches with at least 10 years of experience, Kelsey brings a wealth of coaching knowledge and success to the struggling Louisville program.

The hiring of Kelsey comes after Louisville fired their previous head coach, Kenny Payne, following two disappointing seasons. The Cardinals finished this season with a record of 8-24, showing a slight improvement compared to the previous campaign's 4-28 record. Payne's tenure ended with a 12-52 overall record at the school after taking over from former coach Chris Mack in 2022.

Kelsey assumes the position at a crucial time for Louisville, as the program faces challenges in college basketball's transfer portal and NIL landscape. However, sources indicate that the university has a substantial amount of resources available to support Kelsey in building a competitive roster in the months ahead.

The Louisville faithful eagerly await Kelsey's official introduction, hopeful that his experience and positive approach will revitalize the Cardinals' basketball program and restore it to its former glory.