CSC Recognizes the Passing of Hall of Famer Kenny Klein

6/26/2026 5:00:00 PM

CSC Recognizes the Passing of Hall of Famer Kenny Klein

In memory of Kenny Klein, 1959 - 2026
CSC Hall of Fame, Lifetime Achievement, and 25-Year Award Recipent
University of Louisville, Sports Information Director (retired); St. John's University, Special Advisor

Kenny Klein, longtime Sports Information Director at the University of Louisville has passed away.

Klein was inducted into the College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSida) Hall of Fame in 2015. He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award more recently in 2022. Having worked at Louisville for nearly four decades, Klein earned his CSC 25-Year Award in 2008.

Gallery: (6-26-2026) In Memory of Kenny Klein, 1959 - 2026

Obituary courtesy of the University of Louisville:

Louisville Mourns the Loss of Longtime Administrator Kenny Klein

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – 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.

Statement from the University of Louisville on the Passing of Kenny Klein:
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.

Additonal stories from St. John's Universty and the Louisville Courier-Journal.

We are devastated at the passing of our dear friend Kenny Klein. He will always be synonymous with Louisville, beloved locally and revered nationally.

Our hearts are with the entire Klein family and everyone whose life was better because he was in it.

Kenny Klein was, and will… pic.twitter.com/u9TKmhvnPi
— Louisville Athletics (@GoCards) June 26, 2026

It was with heavy hearts that we mourn the loss of Kenny Klein.

Kenny and his wife Donna became part of our team and St. John’s family over the past two years. There aren’t enough words to describe what Kenny did for St. John’s and what he meant to us. https://t.co/0gYEc2P0MQ pic.twitter.com/yENBjVKOk9
— St. John's Men’s Basketball (@StJohnsBBall) June 26, 2026

No words can describe how much I love this man. pic.twitter.com/YU5L6W9QWb
— Rick Pitino (@RealPitino) June 25, 2026

If you were lucky enough to encounter Kenny Klein, you loved Kenny Klein. The kindest and most genuine soul. And he was that way while working as hard as anybody in the college sports comms world.

Heaven gained an extraordinary person. We love you Kenny. You were the best. ???? pic.twitter.com/JdKNRbHJeY
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) June 26, 2026

Kenny Klein was my first ever mentor when I joined the @CollSportsComm mentorship program.

He called me, texted me, sent me gear… he was truly the class of our profession.

Thank you to the Klein family for sharing him with us for so long. I’m so sorry for your loss.
— Kyler Ludlow (@brdcstrkll) June 26, 2026

For those of us that didn’t know Kenny personally, the outpouring of love and stories from the many that we respect across this profession is all we need to know about him.

Sending thoughts and healing memories to his family and friends and our entire @CollSportsComm family. ??
— Matt Panto (@Matt_Panto) June 26, 2026

When I started my career, I admired Kenny Klein from afar.

I never imagined I’d be at Louisville, sitting in his chair, doing his job, chasing the standard he set for all of us.

I’m so grateful I got to call him a friend. I can only hope to keep making him proud. He was 1 of 1 pic.twitter.com/QaaC8QpRAA
— Dana Brown (@dana_colleen37) June 26, 2026

I was fortunate enough to know Kenny Klein for a few decades. If I had to only pick one Kenny Klein story this would be it pic.twitter.com/PV6ioG9umQ
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) June 26, 2026

Kenny Klein was the gold standard in our profession, but more importantly an incredible person who made everyone feel like a lifelong friend. A straight shooter, a man of the people and always up for a drink and a laugh. Thinking of his family and the entire CSC/NCAA family. pic.twitter.com/R5tQDRJ40Z
— Jordan Sarnoff (@JordanSarnoff) June 25, 2026

College Sports Information Directors of America

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