Western Kentucky promotes Hank Plona to head coach after Steve Lutz's departure for Oklahoma State

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Western Kentucky has promoted assistant Hank Plona to replace head coach Steve Lutz, who was hired by Oklahoma State. Plona joined the program last season and helped guide the Hilltoppers to the Conference USA Tournament championship and first NCAA berth since 2013.

Plona joined the program this past season and helped guide WKU to the Conference USA Tournament championship and first NCAA berth since 2013. The 15th-seeded ’Toppers

Before being hired at WKU, Plona won nearly 87% of his games in eight seasons coaching Indian Hills Community College and earned eight consecutive ICCAC regular-season titles, six postseason crowns and seven NJCAA tournament appearances. The Hilltoppers ranked 17th nationally in NCAA Division I in bench scoring at nearly 29 points per game and averaged nearly 40 rebounds .

WKU athletic director Todd Stewart called Plona “a winner” in a news release announcing his promotion and cited his “integral role” in many phases of the team’s conference title run. “I am confident under his leadership we will continue to build on the strong momentum that has been established. His incredible winning percentage over his previous eight years as head coach speaks for itself, and he has a proven history of strong recruiting and player development.

 

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