Louisville HC Rumors: Xavier's Chris Mack to Meet with Cardinals

Xavier Musketeers men's head basketball coach Chris Mack is reportedly set to meet with Louisville this weekend to discuss potentially taking over the same role for the Cardinals.

On Thursday, Jeff Greer of the Courier-Journal reported it will be the first meeting between the sides with Mack viewed as the "top coach" on the ACC school's wish list.

The 48-year-old Ohio native is apparently exploring the opportunity after his Musketeers were eliminated from the 2018 NCAA tournament by Florida State on Sunday. They were the No. 1 seed in the West Region after winning the Big East regular-season title.

"I told them I loved them. I love coaching them. I felt bad for them," Mack told reporters after the season-ending loss. "Wish I could have done more, you know, to earn the right to keep playing."

Xavier's 29-6 record brought Mack's overall record as the team's head coach to 215-97 (.689 winning percentage) across nine years. The former high school coach started his collegiate coaching career in 1999 with the school and returned after a stint as a Wake Forest Demon Deacons assistant (2001-04).

He also played for the Musketeers during his playing career.

Louisville is conducting a coaching search after firing Rick Pitino in October for his alleged role in a wide-ranging college basketball corruption scandal.

The Cardinals compiled a 22-14 record and reached the NIT quarterfinals under interim coach David Padgett before losing to Mississippi State to end their 2017-18 campaign Tuesday.