Cardinal Forever Milt Wagner is officially home. The national champion and top ten scorer in program history has been hired as the new Director of Player Development and Alumni Relations under Coach Kenny Payne. The CSZ Podcast was the first to report that Wagner would be brought into this role.
So it's official…🚨🔥🚨
— #Ble55ed™ (@Jeremy_CSZ) May 24, 2022
Congrats Milt! pic.twitter.com/NBzQNYDKBy
Wagner is a beloved former Card. He helped lead UofL to the national championship in 1986, averaging 14.2 ppg and 4.2 apg. The 4.2 apg led the team. He ranks 6th in scoring all time at UofL 1834 career points. Wagner’s number is hangs in the rafters of the KFC Yum! Center as an honored number.
Milt then went on to play professionally both in the NBA and overseas. He was drafted 35th overall in the 1986 NBA Draft. He would play with the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat in 2 NBA seasons and play 11 more seasons professionally overseas.
Wagner now comes home to UofL to help guide it back to national prominence. Wagner brings quite a bit of experience in off court roles and assistant coaching roles with him to UofL. He worked at Memphis as the Coordinator of Basketball Operations from 2006 to 2006 before moving on to become an assistant coach under Tony Barbee at UTEP (2006-2010) and Auburn (2010-2014).
The role Wagner is occupying was formerly held by another UofL great Reece Gaines. Fear not, Gaines will still be a part of the support staff. He’s joining the video operations.
Welcome home Milt “Iceman” Wagner. He will undoubtedly bring a wealth of knowledge and swagger with him. Also, in case anyone is wondering, this hiring does not preclude UofL from recruiting his grandson DJ who happens to be the number 1 ranked player in the 2023 class.
To read more details about Milt Wagner’s hiring, check out the press release in the tweet below:
𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲 Milt Wagner!
— Louisville Men's Basketball (@LouisvilleMBB) May 24, 2022
📝: https://t.co/nUuC8bb1fx#GoCards pic.twitter.com/J7zrKwNBej
