<h1><font size="4">... back in the 80s when he was coming out of Northeast Jones High School. He ended up going to Louisville to play for Denny Crum. Now he's headed back to Kentucky to coach with Calipari (supposedly.)
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<font size="4">http://ukbasketball.bloginky.com/2010/05/27/payne-to-presumably-take-pay-cut-to-come-to-uk/</font>
Payne to presumably take pay cut to come to UK</h1><p class="post_date">May 27th, 2010 | Uncategorized | </p><div class="entry">
Kenny Payne reportedly was to be paid $400,000 and $425,000, respectively, over the next two years, plus performance bonuses, to stay as an assistant coach at Oregon.</p>
But he decided to walk away from that contract to become an assistant at Kentucky. In an interview with The Register-Guard, Payne called that decision “bittersweet” and “very tough.”</p>
In terms of base salary, UK’s highest paid assistant last season was John Robic. He had a base salary of $220,000.</p>
“Kentucky is Kentucky,” Payne said Wednesday in an interview with the Eugene-based newspaper. “It’s one of the most prestigious programs in the history of college basketball and it’s an honor for them to even look at me. . . .
“I hope that people here don’t hold that against me because I’m making that move. I’m doing so in hopes of learning and getting better at what I do and learning from a guy I respect and love and have a relationship with. Everybody says, ‘Kenny, it’s a no-brainer.’ But my heart is in Oregon and I’m torn.:</p>
Payne said he reached his decision to accept the Kentucky job Tuesday night and met with Oregon coach Dana Altman on Wednesday.</p>
Kentucky spokesman DeWayne Peevy said that no official announcement had been made on the hiring.</p>
Rod Strickland’s DUI charge and subsequent move to non-coaching duties created an opening on UK’s staff this spring.</p></div>
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<font size="4">http://ukbasketball.bloginky.com/2010/05/27/payne-to-presumably-take-pay-cut-to-come-to-uk/</font>
Payne to presumably take pay cut to come to UK</h1><p class="post_date">May 27th, 2010 | Uncategorized | </p><div class="entry">
Kenny Payne reportedly was to be paid $400,000 and $425,000, respectively, over the next two years, plus performance bonuses, to stay as an assistant coach at Oregon.</p>
But he decided to walk away from that contract to become an assistant at Kentucky. In an interview with The Register-Guard, Payne called that decision “bittersweet” and “very tough.”</p>
In terms of base salary, UK’s highest paid assistant last season was John Robic. He had a base salary of $220,000.</p>
“Kentucky is Kentucky,” Payne said Wednesday in an interview with the Eugene-based newspaper. “It’s one of the most prestigious programs in the history of college basketball and it’s an honor for them to even look at me. . . .
“I hope that people here don’t hold that against me because I’m making that move. I’m doing so in hopes of learning and getting better at what I do and learning from a guy I respect and love and have a relationship with. Everybody says, ‘Kenny, it’s a no-brainer.’ But my heart is in Oregon and I’m torn.:</p>
Payne said he reached his decision to accept the Kentucky job Tuesday night and met with Oregon coach Dana Altman on Wednesday.</p>
Kentucky spokesman DeWayne Peevy said that no official announcement had been made on the hiring.</p>
Rod Strickland’s DUI charge and subsequent move to non-coaching duties created an opening on UK’s staff this spring.</p></div>