Louisville coach Rick Pitino hires Wayne Turner, his former guard at Kentucky, as an assistant

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Wayne Turner is reuniting with Louisville coach Rick Pitino, joining the defending national champions as an assistant.

Turner will live with the players while helping coaches with game preparation, scouting and recruiting. Pitino said in a statement there's "no better person to do that." Turner worked on current Kentucky coach John Calipari's staff in 2010-11 while earning his undergraduate degree.

He starred at guard in his two seasons under Pitino, helping Kentucky reach three consecutive NCAA championship games. He was part of title teams in 1996 and 1998, the second with Tubby Smith.

Turner is Kentucky's career steals leader and fourth in assists. He scored 1,170 points over a then-NCAA record 151 games.