LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Rick Pitino delivered the eulogy Monday morning for Kenny Klein, the longtime sports information director at the University of Louisville who he said was the "most special person" he's met in his life.
The funeral was held at St. Raphael on Bardstown Road in Louisville.
Klein's career spanned nearly four decades and helped shape the public face of Cardinals athletics through some of its greatest triumphs and most difficult crises. He died Thursday night, according to his family, at the age of 66.
"There was nobody better in life than Kenny," Pitino said during his eulogy.
When Klein became Louisville's sports information director in 1983, he was the youngest person to hold that position at a Division I football institution. For 16 years, he served as an aid and close confidant for Pitino. Later, after retiring from Louisville, Pitino convinced Klein to come to New York City and help him at St. John's. Pitino said Monday that he and Klein were "inseparable" during those two years.
"It's difficult to say goodbye to someone you love so much," Pitino said Monday. "And we all talk about celebrating life. And without question, we have to celebrate. If anyone deserves celebration in life — and true honor to celebrate that life — that's Kenny Klein. There's no better dad. There's no better husband. There's no better friend. There's no better SID to the media. There's no better meeting a person on the street than Kenny Klein, with that smile. So we honor. We celebrate. Because he is the most special person I've met in my 73 years. Kenny, I'm never going to say goodbye to you. I'm going to look over at that empty seat to the left. And for everybody in this room, we won't say goodbye. We'll just keep him in our hearts forever."
You can watch Pitino's full eulogy in the video player above.
Copyright 2026 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.
