Louisville mourns the loss of longtime administrator Kenny Klein

The University of Louisville mourns the loss of longtime athletics communications director Kenny Klein who passed away on Thursday at the age of 66.

Klein, whose storied career spanned more than 40 years, served as UofL's Sports Information Director from 1983 until his retirement in 2022. He worked tirelessly behind the scenes and earned the reputation as one of the most well-known and respected communications leaders in collegiate athletics. 

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 joined the Cardinals' staff in July of 1983 after nearly two seasons as sports information director at Morehead State University. Prior to that stint, Klein spent four years as an undergraduate and graduate assistant at Murray State University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in journalism in 1981. At the time of his appointment at UofL, he was the youngest SID at an NCAA Division I football institution at 23.

In addition to working alongside Hall of Fame Louisville basketball coaches Denny Crum and Rick Pitino, Klein himself was a legend in his field. A 2015 inductee into the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Hall of Fame, Klein also worked one season as a student assistant in sports information at Austin Peay State University and was a sports writer for the Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle.

His career dedication led to Klein's induction into the state's Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. He received the 2012 Katha Quinn Award, presented by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association in recognition for providing outstanding service to media covering college basketball.

Klein coordinated the computerized statistics operation for 40 NCAA Men's Basketball Final Fours. In his initial season with the Cardinals, he edited the 1983-84 UofL basketball guide which was judged second in the nation by CoSIDA. Klein, who edited UofL's 352-page basketball history book Above the Rim, also received multiple other publication awards while at UofL and Murray State.

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. He was the local media center committee chairman for the 1996, 2000 and 2014 PGA Championships in Louisville, and served in a similar capacity for the 2008 Ryder Cup and 2004 and 2011 Senior PGA Championships. He also assisted in the media operations at the 1999 Ryder Cup in Boston.

Klein served as vice-chairman of the CoSIDA Scholarship Committee and was the athletic department's representative for multimedia rights with the ACC, including the inception and oversight of the Cardinals' broadcast center for the ACC Network.
Klein, who grew up in Southside, Tenn., is survived by his wife, the former Donna Graham, along with two sons: Alex (Beth) and Brady (Carly) and grandchildren Clark and Iris.     

Kenny Klein was one of the most treasured figures in the history of Louisville Athletics.

For almost 40 years, Kenny gave himself completely to this university, to our student-athletes, our coaches, our staff and our fans. He was the keeper of our stories, the guardian of our history and the steady, smiling presence that made everyone around him feel seen and valued. There was no one who loved Louisville more, and Louisville loved him right back.

But Kenny's legacy extended far beyond the walls of Louisville Athletics. He was revered nationally as one of the best sports information directors in the industry, a true master of his craft who earned the respect and admiration of peers, media and colleagues across the nation. His Hall of Fame recognition was well deserved, but those who knew Kenny understood that his greatest distinction was never a title or an award. It was the man he was every single day.

Kenny Klein was kind. He was generous. He was humble. He made everyone from the newest student manager to the most seasoned sportswriter feel like they mattered. He answered every call, remembered every name, and approached every interaction with grace and genuine warmth. In a profession that demands so much, Kenny never lost sight of what mattered most: people.

We extend our deepest love and condolences to the Klein family. We grieve with you, and we hold you close.

Kenny was, and will always be, a Cardinal Forever.