Xavier coach Chris Mack confirms meeting with Louisville

It’s really happening.

After reports that Xavier coach Chris Mack was set for a meeting with Louisville officials following the program’s decision to go the other direction from interim coach David Padgett, Mack confirmed the news on Thursday, per The Enquirer.

Jeff Greer of the Louisville Courier-Journal was the first to report Mack would visit with Louisville officials this weekend. Interim athletic director Vince Tyra had previously ducked a question about the veracity of claims that Mack was being considered the top candidate for the job.

After Louisville dismissed coach Rick Pitino following an FBI and NCAA investigation, Padgett was announced as the interim coach. After a 22-14 season in which the Cardinals missed the NCAA Tournament under Padgett, Tyra is targeting an “elite” head coach.

Louisville can’t get much better than Mack, who has made the NCAA Tournament eight of nine years as head coach of Xavier. Mack’s program has made the regional final just once during his tenure. He won 215 games with the Musketeers, putting together a winning record each season since he arrived as head coach.

The Xavier alum is making $1.7 million as coach of the Musketeers, and is considered the favorite to land the Louisville job.