Rick Pitino says he’ll attend Louisville’s Kenny Klein banner ceremony at KFC Yum! Center

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB+WAVE) — Rick Pitino is coming back to the KFC Yum! Center. And he’s coming back for Kenny Klein.

The former University of Louisville basketball coach said Friday in an interview with CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein that he plans to attend the Jan. 2 ceremony honoring Klein, the university’s longtime sports information director, who died June 25 at age 66.

It will be Pitino’s first return to the arena since his departure from Louisville in 2017, ending a nine-year absence from the building where he coached the Cardinals to the 2013 national championship.

But this return isn’t about basketball. It’s about a friendship that continued long after Pitino’s Louisville coaching career ended.

“Certainly, I’m going back this year,” Pitino told Rothstein. “We play Butler on a Sunday or a Saturday, and they’re honoring Kenny Klein on Friday. So I’m going back to Louisville to be with Donna Klein and celebrate Kenny Klein at Louisville.”

Louisville announced Monday that it will raise a permanent banner honoring Klein during its Jan. 2 basketball game against Stanford. His name will join those of former coaches Denny Crum, John Dromo and Peck Hickman, along with six former Louisville players whose numbers have been retired.

Klein spent nearly four decades as Louisville’s sports information director, working alongside Crum and Pitino and helping chronicle some of the greatest moments in the program’s history.

His relationship with Pitino, however, extended well beyond their years together at Louisville.

After retiring from the university in 2022, Klein reunited with Pitino at St. John’s in January 2025. What was supposed to be a few weeks helping his longtime friend turned into two seasons as a special adviser to the Red Storm basketball program.

Klein helped St. John’s win a pair of Big East championships and became a trusted adviser throughout the athletic department.

When Klein died in June, Pitino was devastated.

“Kenny Klein is the most selfless person I’ve met in my lifetime,” Pitino said. “His humility and talents were attributes I admired so much. My heart breaks with the loss of such a great friend and person.”

Pitino delivered a eulogy at Klein’s funeral, later acknowledging that he had been unable to get through everything he wanted to say.

St. John’s has continued to honor Klein this season. The Red Storm are wearing black bands bearing his initials, “K.K.,” on their uniforms, and Pitino has left the seat beside him at the scorer’s table empty in Klein’s memory.

“Not since 9/11 have I felt so sad, losing a person right in front of you who I love so much,” Pitino said after St. John’s exhibition against Rutgers earlier this month. “We’ll keep honoring him. I keep thinking of him. My heart breaks for his wife. I miss him terribly.”

Now Pitino will join Louisville in honoring the man who spent much of his professional life working alongside him.

Pitino led Louisville to three Final Fours and the 2013 national championship during his 16 seasons as head coach. The championship and two of those Final Four trips were later vacated by the NCAA.

His departure was contentious, but Pitino has spoken favorably about Louisville in recent years, including its current coach, Pat Kelsey.

He had more praise for the Cardinals during Friday’s interview with Rothstein.

“Louisville is one of the teams that I put out of like 12 teams that could win a national championship this year,” Pitino said. “They’re one of those.”

In fact, Pitino could face his former school before he returns to Louisville.

St. John’s and Louisville are competing in the Players Era tournament in Las Vegas during Thanksgiving week. If St. John’s defeats Oregon and Louisville beats Texas Tech in their opening games, the teams would meet in the next round.

Pitino said he would welcome the matchup.

“I’m very happy to play them in Las Vegas, more so than playing them at Louisville,” he said.

Louisville athletic director Josh Heird said that the decision to raise Klein’s banner reflects the lasting impact of a man who spent his career celebrating the accomplishments of others.

“Kenny Klein dedicated his career to telling the stories of Louisville’s greatest moments and the people who made them possible,” Heird said. “He never sought the spotlight or recognition for himself, but there is no question that Kenny profoundly shaped the history and tradition of Louisville Basketball as we know it.”

The Klein family said in a statement that the tribute, along with the stories shared by friends, former players, coaches and members of the media, has brought comfort during a difficult time.

“Kenny lived and breathed the Louisville Cardinals, and he loved his work because, to him, it was always about helping others,” the family said.