Louisville Basketball: David Padgett made the best of a bad situation
While David Padgett’s tenure with the Louisville Cardinals is over, he should have opportunities coming his way soon.
After one sordid season, David Padgett needs a new job.
The Louisville Cardinals head man walked into the worst situation imaginable. He was forced to replace a popular coach who was removed for his ties to the FBI scandal, one who led the Cardinals to a national championship and was contesting his very removal.
On top of that, Padgett never served as a head coach prior to the gig.
Under the cloud of scandal Padgett operated within, the Cardinals still managed to put together a season that put them on the brink of the NCAA Tournament. This, despite the fact that star freshman Brian Bowen would never play for the team, wrapped in the same FBI scandal as Rick Pitino.
The Cardinals went 22-14 this season, including 9-9 in ACC play. They advanced to the NIT quarterfinals, where they fell to the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Tuesday night.
“We all owe a great debt of gratitude to David for his leadership and poise this season,” interim Director of Athletics Vince Tyra said in a statement. ‘He took over during incredible circumstances, has handled himself respectfully throughout the season and I believe he has a bright future in coaching.”
Having Padgett continue as head coach was untenable. The school felt it was in their best interest to separate themselves from the figures who were even incidentally tied to the scandals that have plagued their program; it’s hard to disagree.
This isn’t the last we’ll see of Padgett, though. According to the Lexington Herald-Leader, the former coach spoke of his future at his closing press conference, saying “More than anything, I learned that I have the confidence that I can do this moving forward, and I hope somebody out there will give me a chance to be a head coach somewhere else.”
Those openings at Arkansas-Little Rock and Eastern Kentucky are calling his name.