TUCSON, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 13: Head coach Steve Lutz of the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders … [+]
Western Kentucky has named former Texas A&M Corpus Christi coach Steve Lutz as its new head man’s basketball coach
Lutz, 50, replaces Rick Stansbury, who resigned last week after seven seasons. Lutz went 47-23 in two seasons at Texas A&M Corpus Christi with back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. He was named the 2023 Southland Conference and NABC District 22 Coach of the Year.
“We are excited to name Steve Lutz as our next head coach,” athletic director Todd Stewart said in a statement. “He is a proven winner and a respected coach with a track record of consistent success in recruiting, player development, academics, and community involvement. It is nice to hire someone with head coaching experience, but it is even better if they have winning head coaching experience. After having a major impact at Purdue as an assistant coach, Steve’s impact at Texas A&M – Corpus Christi over the last two seasons as a head coach is remarkable. He inherited a program with four consecutive losing seasons and led an immediate turn around culminating in conference championships and an NCAA Tournament appearance each season. And, over his last seven seasons, his teams have reached the NCAA Tournament each year. He is the right person at the right time to lead our program.”
Lutz was previously an assistant and Purdue and Creighton. He is set to be introduced at a press conference on Monday at noon central.
“I am very excited and appreciative of the opportunity to be the next head coach at Western Kentucky,” said Lutz. “This is a storied program with a rich history of success. Our teams will wear the WKU uniform with pride and represent the Hilltopper Nation in everything we do. I look forward to meeting our players, and our family is looking forward to joining the Bowling Green community. Go Tops!”
