The University of Louisville announced today that they will raise a banner in honor of longtime UofL administrator Kenny Klein. The ceremony will take place on Saturday, January 2nd at the Cardinals’ home game against Stanford.
Klein will join several basketball legends in the rafters including Louisville’s six retired numbers No. 2 Russ Smith, No. 8 Charlie Tyra, No. 10 Junior Bridgeman, No. 31 Wes Unseld, No. 35 Darrell Griffith, and No. 42 Pervis Ellison; and three of UofL’s head coaches in Denny Crum, John Dromo and Bernard “Peck” Hickman.
Klein joined the Cardinals’ staff in July of 1983. His storied career spanned more than 40 years, served as UofL’s Sports Information Director from 1983 until his retirement in 2022.
If you knew Klein, you know he worked tirelessly behind the scenes and earned the reputation as one of the most well-known and respected communications leaders in collegiate athletics.
Vice President/Director of Athletics Josh Heird says, “Kenny Klein dedicated his career to telling the stories of Louisville’s greatest moments and the people who made them possible. 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. Heird goes on to say “His loyalty, humility and love for this university were unmatched, and the relationships he built and lives he touched extend far beyond the basketball court. There is something incredibly special about knowing that a man who spent more than four decades celebrating Louisville’s legends will now take his rightful place among them.”
Following his retirement, Klein continued to work as a consultant with the Cardinals’ men’s basketball program during the 2022-23 season. After a year of retirement, Klein returned to action, rejoining former Louisville men’s basketball coach Rick Pitino as a special advisor for St. John’s men’s basketball program from 2024-26.
Klein has worked alongside Hall of Fame Louisville basketball coaches Denny Crum and Rick Pitino.
Klein coordinated the computerized statistics operation for 40 NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Fours.
He served as the media coordinator for the 1987 USA Pan American Games men’s basketball team, has served on the NCAA Final Four media coordination committee and annually assisted in media operations for the Kentucky Derby.
So, again on January 2, 2027, Klein will be remembered with his own banner hanging from the raptures of the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky.
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