Louisville hiring Xavier’s Chris Mack
© Christopher Hanewinckel | USATSI
After several days (weeks?) of speculation, Louisville finally has its man. According to Jeff Goodman, Louisville and Xavier’s Chris Mack have agreed to a seven-year deal worth roughly $4 million per season. An official announcement is expected tomorrow.
Mack is Xavier’s all-time winningest coach, with a 212-96 record, three Sweet 16 appearances, and one Elite Eight appearance. This year, the Musketeers won the Big East regular season title and were a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Mack will replace interim coach David Padgett, who took over when Rick Pitino was dismissed in September amid the FBI’s investigation into college hoops.
This is a great hire for Louisville and I’m a little bitter because it appears Mack’s bringing his assistant Luke Murray, son of Bill Murray, with him, which means we’ve got several years of seeing Bill cheer for Louisville ahead of us. Dangit.
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37 Comments for Louisville hiring Xavier’s Chris Mack
Coach Cal would still kick his ass tho
He kinda looks like Terry Meiners’ stunt zero.
Mack is good coach, but not elite. Has 58% win record in NCAA, with only 68% in A10
Xavier play in the big east
First 4 years were A10
They went big east 5 years ago. But… the 68% win percentage was his time during both
From 2007-2009 (3years) Sean miller took them to wins of 25, 30, and 27, 3 straight A10 conference titles. Mack took over in 2009, and had similar success in first 2 years, but then led them to double digit loss seasons 5 out of 6 seasons, finished 6th in last A10 season, and finished of 6th and 7th in Big East, and including being and losing as a play-in team in NCAA.
This guys resume is worse than Shaka Smart
Xavier, under Mack, has been more known for fights on the court, than NCAA wins
Good fit for the Ville.
That was indicative of who they were playing. Cronin would have fit perfect at UofL.
Optional facts, I strongly disagree. The fight with uc was completely antagonized by Xavier players. They were a rough bunch. Kinda funny that that fight sent the high hopes for that season into a death spiral. Those kids were straight up punks.
Also….I detest Cronin and actually like Mack. So much for that. Loathe them both now.
That’s a great hire for them given the possible death penalty coming to UofL. To be known around the world as the epicenter of cheating, scandals, and general repugnance, and still get a decent coach, says a lot about Tyra.
Cincinnati radio station says Xavier offered him 35 million over 10 years and Louisville 28 million over 7 years so that tells me he didn’t think he could take Xavier any further than he has he now becomes public enemy number 1
I’m sure his contract with ul is loaded with incentives…not to mention possible endorsement deals. He’ll also be able to recruit at an elite level. No brained decision for Mack.
Double digit losses at Xavier 5out of last 7 seasons, with a single elite 8 appearance in his career
Is Luke in charge of the Strippers now???
Actually, Bill Murray will be.
Wife’s family is from Louisville, more money, larger budget. Was bound to happen.
I actually think David Padgett did a good job this year, as much as it hurts to admit it.
Good hire for Cheaterville.
He was 1-10 vs Villanova
don’t forget about nova’s 18.4 average margin of victory.
I give it 5 years.
Mack is an average coach. This is an average hire
Belknap and uavel: that’s an average commuter college.
Don’t kid yourself, Mack came to UofL for the money, not because of Tyra. He’s getting paid.
He was reportedly offered 3.5mil/year to stay at Xavier, and took Louisville for reported 4mil. Not that big of a pay difference, to take over that dumpster fire program on I65
Jiminy- $500k per year over 7 years is a lot of money to most people
Did they interview any Minority coaches?
Kenny Payne
Yes, he’s bald and most people aren’t bald, so that makes him a minority.
I live in NKY – know the entire Mack family. First class guy all the way. I will be rooting for him in every game except the UK game. Glad UK kept Kenny Payne!
Hope Padgett gets a D1 job.
He’s supposedly a top candidate a few lower end D1 programs. I had this convo with an influential UL supporter, but I can’t remember the names of the schools he mentioned, but they’re not household names
Middle of the pack coach at best and very little difference in pay so makes no sense. I can’t imagine why he would want the job or anyone else as far as that goes. Seems like a really bad decision on his part. Now if it was to be honest for his wife that would be the only thing that makes sense. Cal is 9-2 against Louisville since being at UK 8-2 while pitino was there so that trend should continue . Mack and pitino bout the same, Mack 1 elite 8 in 9 years pitino no championships in 16 years at louisville so they have lots in common.
Pitino was 10x coach Mack is. I think he will be good for UL, he’s a great guy (I personally don’t know him, but have quite a few friends in southern Ohio that know him) and will do things right. But if UL thinks he’s going to compete with UNC, Duke,UVA they’re likely going to not like the results