Rick Pitino Says “Thank You” to His SID

Over the past ten years at UofL, Rick Pitino has developed a close relationship with Louisville Sports Information Director Kenny Klein. However, I imagine that the past eight months or so has forced them to work even more closely as they have weathered the storm of the allegations Pitino has faced.

For Klein’s 50th birthday in November, Pitino decided he was going to do something special for him. Jeff Goodman, in his blog, writes that Pitino gave Klein a brand new Lexus convertible. Not bad, huh?

LOUISVILLE – I was the last writer to leave Freedom Hall last night and when I walked out the building, there were just a couple of cars left in the parking lot.

One was my big ‘old Town Car that National gave me, the other was a brand-new Lexus I535C red convertible that belonged to Louisville’s long-time sports information director Kenny Klein.

Klein drove a Chevy Impala until Nov. 21 of this past year when he celebrated his 50th birthday.

On that morning, Klein walked outside to find the Lexus with a bow around it – a gift worth in the neighborhood of $50,000 courtesy of Louisville coach Rick Pitino.

“I was shocked then and I’m still shocked,” said Klein, who has worked the past nine seasons with Pitino and is one of the best in the business at his craft.