Rick Kueber, 502 Circle Launch $1 Million Matching Campaign for Louisville Men's Basketball

The Cardinals are receiving a massive NLI boost from one of their most prolific donors.

Louisville Basketball coach Pat Kelsey speaks as he is introduced as the new head coach of UofL / Michael Clevenger/Courier Journal / USA

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Louisville men's basketball program is getting massive boost on the name, image and likeness front.

Local businessman and Louisville megadonor Rick Kueber announced Monday morning that, on behalf of himself, his brother David and his company Glow Brands, he is financing a million-dollar donation matching campaign through the 502 Circle - the official NIL collective of the Louisville Cardinals.

Funds for this campaign will be earmarked specifically for the men's basketball program. Any matching donations that cross the $1 million threshold will go towards other University of Louisville sports.

"I think we all understand how important the success of Louisville basketball is to the city, and the downtown economy, and to all Cardinals supporters" Kueber said on 93.9 FM for the announcement. "We're really happy to do this. We're super excited that coach Pat Kelsey is here with us. I think there's great times ahead. This is really a chance for everyone to get involved, and be a part of a solution rather than just to sit back and do nothing. We're really excited about it."

Glow Brands, which is headquartered in both Louisville and Elizabethtown, Ky., manages three companies: Planet Fitness, Sun Tan City and Buff City Soap. Kueber, who is the Co-Founder and CEO of Glow Brands, believes he has donated "somewhere north of $10 million" to UofL. In 2018, the Kuebers purchased the naming rights for men's basketball, women's basketball and women's lacrosse practice facility.

"We're extremely grateful to Glow Brands and 502Circle for their collaboration on this NIL membership match campaign," Louisville AD Josh Heird said in a statement. "This level of commitment to supporting our student-athletes continues to make the University of Louisville a premier destination for the best talent in the country. Our goal is to continue to create positive momentum around UofL Athletics. With your help, we can take all of our programs to even greater heights."

The campaign will certainly help new Louisville head coach Pat Kelsey - who was hired to take over the Cardinals last week after the firing of Kenny Payne - construct a new roster for his first season at the helm. As of Apr. 1, every scholarship player from the 2023-24 team with the exception of guard Ty-Laur Johnson has entered the transfer portal.

"This money is really important," Kueber said. "I think we want Pat and his staff to get off to the right start. We need to put together a roster that's competitive. ... We just need to get back to a place where we're competitive, and we're fighting at the top of the ACC, and we're in the tournament every year. I have the utmost confidence in Pat and his abilities."

Kelsey has already started to piece together his first team. This past weekend, guard Reyne Smith and center James Scott both opted to follow their former head coach from Charleston to Louisville.

Fans who wish to donate towards the campaign can do so at this link.

(Photo of Pat Kelsey: Michael Clevenger - Courier Journal / USA)

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