Louisville Basketball Staffer Brian Kloman Leaving for Auburn

Kloman, Pat Kelsey's longest-tenured assistant, held a GM-like role for the Cardinals

Mar. 26, 2026 at 10:18pm

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Brian Kloman, a key member of Louisville basketball coach Pat Kelsey's staff, is leaving the program to take a similar position at Auburn. Kloman, who spent 12 seasons working alongside Kelsey, was recently promoted to a general manager-like role with the Cardinals before the 2025-26 season.

Why it matters

Kloman's departure is a significant loss for Louisville, as he played a crucial role in the program's recent resurgence, including back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. His close relationship with Kelsey and expertise in areas like recruiting and roster management made him a valuable asset for the Cardinals.

The details

Kloman, a native of Asheville, North Carolina, was promoted from assistant coach to executive director of player personnel and strategic initiatives before the 2025-26 season. In this GM-like role, he focused on recruiting, roster construction, and navigating the complexities of modern college athletics. Kloman received a $25,000 raise as part of the promotion, going from $400,000 to $425,000 annually.

  • Kloman and Kelsey spent 12 seasons working together.
  • Kloman was promoted to his GM-like role roughly two months before the 2025-26 season tipped off.
  • Kloman is leaving Louisville to take a similar position at Auburn.

The players

Brian Kloman

Kloman was Louisville basketball coach Pat Kelsey's longest-tenured staff member, holding a general manager-like role with the Cardinals before leaving for a similar position at Auburn.

Pat Kelsey

Kelsey is the head coach of the Louisville basketball team, and he and Kloman have worked together for 12 seasons.

Steven Pearl

Pearl is the head coach of the Auburn basketball team, and he has hired Kloman to a similar position on his staff.

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What they’re saying

“He knows what I'm thinking before I'm thinking.”

— Pat Kelsey, Louisville Basketball Head Coach

“I'd known from the first time I met (Kelsey) he was special (and) he was a Hall of Fame coach. I just wanted to sit on his coattails … and just try not to mess up.”

— Brian Kloman, Former Louisville Basketball Staffer

What’s next

Kelsey and the Louisville basketball program will need to find a replacement for Kloman's key role within the organization.

The takeaway

Kloman's departure is a significant loss for Louisville basketball, as he was a trusted and integral part of the program's recent success under Kelsey. His expertise and close relationship with the head coach made him a valuable asset, and his move to Auburn represents a blow to the Cardinals' staff.