University of Louisville interim men’s basketball coach David Padgett has named a new assistant to his depleted staff.
Trent Johnson has 36 years of coaching experience, including 17 as a head coach at college programs, most recently Texas Christian.
Johnson comes to U of L during a tumultuous period for the program, which has suspended head coach Rick Pitino and two assistants in the midst of a federal bribery investigation involving recruits. The probe has also resulted in the suspension of athletic director Tom Jurich. Johnson said he’s undaunted by the task ahead.
“Because this is Louisville, this is Louisville, and the things we as coaches can control under his (Padgett’s) leadership is what goes on on the floor,” said Johnson.
Padgett said he chose Johnson because he’s known him for years and because of his head coaching experience. In addition to TCU, Johnson has been head coach at Nevada, Stanford and LSU. U of L’s athletics board will take up Pitino’s employment status during a meeting Monday morning.
