Kenny Johnson has been elevated to associate head coach by UofL coach Rick Pitino.

Johnson, who just completed his second season as an assistant at Louisville, was a key addition to the staff from Indiana two years ago.

“Kenny is a five-star coach, five-star recruiter and a five-star person,” said Pitino. “We want him to remain a part of our family for the coming years.”

Johnson is Louisville's top recruiter and has been recognized as one of the top recruiters in college basketball. Johnson was a key to Louisville landing Drexel transfer Damion Lee, four-star forward Deng Adel and five-star shooter V.J. King.

Just as Louisville has benefited from Johnson's hard work, Johnson has benefitted from Pitino's workout regimen. During his first four months on campus, Johnson lost more than 100 pounds. He has since maintained a strong level of physical fitness despite the rigors of a season.

Pitino elevating Johnson is a signal that things are moving forward for Pitino as he looks toward next season.

“I believe in the integrity of Coach Pitino and it is an honor to continue to be a part of the program that he leads,” said Johnson, who signed a new two-year agreement with UofL. “I love this program and what it means to so many great people. Just as a legion of supporters have had our back and continue to have our back, so shall I have theirs. L1C4.”

Kenny Johnson File:

Prior to Louisville, Johnson was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Indiana University for two years. While at Indiana, Johnson helped the Hoosiers assemble two top 20 recruiting classes, including a top five class in 2013. Johnson was an assistant coach at Towson for one season in 2011-12, helping assemble a top five mid-major recruiting class.

He began his coaching career in 2002 as the associate head coach at Eleanor Roosevelt High School before moving to Dr. Henry Wise High School in 2006 for one year (2006-07). He was associate head coach at Paul IV High School for four years (2007-11) before advancing to the collegiate ranks.

Johnson earned his bachelor’s degree in cell, molecular biology and genetics in 1999 at the University of Maryland, where he was a Benjamin Banneker Scholarship recipient. He worked as a protein chemist/molecular biologist at Human Genome Sciences in Rockville, Md. after graduation.

A native of Oxon Hill, Md., Johnson and his wife, Doreen, have two sons, Amare (12) and Mekai (9).