Louisville women’s basketball coach Jeff Walz agrees to contract extension through 2028

Jeff Walz has work left to do at Louisville.

The highly successful Cardinal women’s basketball coach has agreed to a contract extension that will keep him in The Ville through at least the 2027-28 season.

“I would like to thank Dr. Bendapudi, Vince Tyra, Amy Calabrese and the UofL Athletic Board for recognizing the success we have had here in women’s basketball and extending my contract through 2028,” said head coach Jeff Walz. “I am blessed to have an amazing staff and coach wonderful young women who represent their families, our program, the University and the city of Louisville with class and pride.

“It has been 15 years of hard work, doing things the right way and lots of on and off the court wins that have made this extension possible. Most important to me is the relationships I have built with past and current players. It is the players who have made this a perennially elite women’s basketball program. My wife, children and I love the University and can’t thank the city of Louisville enough for your support of women’s basketball.”

Walz arrived at Louisville in 2007 to take over a program that had never reached a Sweet 16 before. In the 15 seasons that have followed, Walz has taken the Cardinals to that round of the NCAA tournament a whopping 10 times. Under Walz, U of L has made six trips to the Elite Eight, three trips to the final four and two trips to the national title game.

“We are excited to extend Coach Walz’s contract and to know that he will be here through 2028,” said Director of Athletics Vince Tyra. “He is an elite coach that has not only established a perennial national championship contender, but one of the best programs in the country. Continuity in his coaching staff has been a key to his program’s success and this extension will help solidify that continuity.”

Walz is the all-time winningest coach in program history with a record of 385-108 and averages 27.5 victories per season. He directed Louisville to a program-record 36 victories in 2017-18 en route to being named ACC Coach of the Year, 34 victories in 2008-09, 33 wins in 2013-14 and 32 wins in 2018-19. The Cardinals finished with 28 and 26 wins in the shortened 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons.

Great, great, great news for U of L fans to jump start this Homecoming weekend.