After beating Pitt, Louisville coach Pat Kelsey credits Carnegie native Skip Prosser, who 'taught me everything I know about coaching'

Louisville coach Pat Kelsey grew up in Cincinnati, roots for the Bengals, played at Xavier and coached at Winthrop in Rock Hill, S.C., and the College of Charleston (S.C.).

Yet when he walked away from his postgame news conference Saturday after Louisville defeated Pitt 82-78 at Petersen Events Center, he wasn’t trying to be a smart aleck when he said, “See yinz later.”

You see, Kelsey played for Carnegie native Skip Prosser at Xavier and coached under him at Wake Forest. He said being around Prosser, who died in 2007 at the age of 56, made it easy to acquire a love for the city of Pittsburgh.

Great interaction here between Louisville head coach Pat Kelsey and the great Jerry DiPaola (@JDiPaola_Trib) talking about legendary coach and Pittsburgh native Skip Prosser

"I get everything from Skip Prosser... He was so proud of this city. Skip Prosser loved Pittsburgh..." pic.twitter.com/XrmA1fJV9M

— George Michalowski (@MichalowskiCBB) January 11, 2025

“I get everything from Skip Prosser,” Kelsey said. “People from Pittsburgh know him. He was so proud of this city. Skip Prosser loved Pittsburgh. He would be saying ‘yinz’ every day. He took me to Primanti Brothers. He loved the Buccos. He loved the ‘Stillers’ as he called it.

“I have a special place in my heart for the city because of that. I have such respect and love for Pittsburgh because of my relationship with Skip Prosser, who taught me everything I know about coaching, everything I know about recruiting and leadership. We miss him greatly, and I know the city of Pittsburgh does as well.”

After the victory against Pitt, which raised Louisville’s record to 12-5 (5-1 in the ACC), Kelsey even had high praise for the Oakland Zoo.

“Tough environment,” he said. “Hats off to the Oakland Zoo. Not trying to recruit for Pitt, but give credit where credit is due. They were phenomenal.”

Before he was hired at Louisville 10 months ago to resurrect a program that was 8-24 last season, Kelsey won nearly 70% of his games (261-122) at Winthrop and the College of Charleston over the previous 12 years. He has won 11 total conference championships, with four NCAA Tournament bids.

He has found success at Louisville by blending a roster comprised exclusively of transfers and one freshman who come from 10 states, Washington D.C., and four foreign countries.

“It’s the right pieces,” Kelsey said. “It’s no magic pixie dust that we did. It’s making sure you identify and find and recruit and sign players who are about the right things, that are about ‘we not me.’ And they have that uncommon commitment to the guy next to you.

“Our whole culture is based on the most powerful force in the universe, and that’s love and that’s loving the guy next to you. From Day 1, they meshed.”