Danny Manning will return to the ACC.
Stadium college basketball insider Jeff Goodman reports that Manning will join Kenny Payne’s coaching staff at Louisville. Last week, Louisville also landed Duke assistant coach Nolan Smith, making him the program’s associate head coach.
Louisville coach Kenny Payne will hire Danny Manning as an assistant coach, source told @Stadium.
Manning joins Nolan Smith. Payne has one more assistant spot to fill.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) April 15, 2022
Manning, of course, coached at Wake Forest for six seasons (2014-20). During his tenure with the program, Wake Forest went to one NCAA Tournament and lost in the 2017 First Four to Kansas State.
The Demon Deacons finished the 2019-20 season, Manning’s final year in Winston-Salem, with their fifth losing season under Manning: 13-18 (6-14 ACC). Manning’s record at Wake Forest was 78-111 (.413). Steve Forbes was quickly hired to replace Manning.
After spending a season working for ESPN, Manning returned to the bench as an assistant coach for Maryland, under Mark Turgeon. However, Turgeon stepped down on Dec. 2, 2021; Manning was then named interim head coach.
Going back to his time as a member of the coaching staff at Kansas (2003-12) Manning is known for his work both recruiting and developing big men. John Collins and Doral Moore were both developmental success stories under Manning at Wake Forest.
That bodes well for future Louisville rosters, including next season’s projected squad: Sydney Curry, Jae’Lyn Withers, Roosevelt Wheeler, JJ Traynor and Kamari Lands.