LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — One of the key architects behind Louisville basketball’s recent roster construction is headed to the SEC.
Brian Kloman, who served as the Cardinals’ Executive Director of Player Personnel and Strategic Initiatives this past season and defensive coordinator a season ago, is leaving to become general manager at Auburn, according Joe Tipton of On3 Sports and other sources.
Kloman had been a central figure in coach Pat Kelsey’s program, overseeing roster building, recruiting strategy and revenue-sharing efforts in an evolving college basketball landscape shaped by NIL and transfer movement.
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He joined Kelsey at Louisville after a long working relationship that dates back more than a decade, including stops at Winthrop and College of Charleston. Over that span, Kelsey and Kloman built a reputation for quickly assembling competitive rosters, combining for a 254-100 record across three programs.
At Louisville, Kloman played a significant role in the program’s rapid turnaround. After a complete roster overhaul, the Cardinals returned to the NCAA Tournament in Kelsey’s first season and followed with a 24-11 campaign this past year, advancing to the second round.
Kelsey praised Kloman’s impact when he was promoted into his current role last summer.
“Brian’s gift for anticipating and capitalizing on trends in college basketball is unmatched,” Kelsey said at the time. “His vision, work ethic and ability to connect with players, coaches and stakeholders make him an invaluable asset.”
Kloman’s move comes as Auburn reshapes its staff following the retirement of longtime coach Bruce Pearl. He is expected to take on a central role in roster construction, recruiting strategy and resource management for the Tigers.
Before Louisville, Kloman helped guide College of Charleston to back-to-back conference titles and NCAA Tournament appearances, and spent seven seasons at Winthrop as part of multiple championship teams.
His background also includes coaching stops at Tennessee Tech and North Carolina Central, along with founding RecruitingRumors.com, a widely used resource among college coaches.
Kloman is a graduate of the University of Tennessee.
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