Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball history
Western Kentucky University (Bowling Green, KY)
E.A. Diddle Arena
Conference USA (CUSA)
Current head coach: Hank Plona (2024-)
- Asst: Martin Cross (2023-)
- Asst: Robert Guster (2023-)
- Asst: Darryl Jackson (2023-)
- Asst: Tim MacAllister (2023-)
- DBO/Scouting: Isaiah Brooks-Sena (2023-)
Post-Season:
- National Championships: 0
- Final Four Appearances: 0 **
- Sweet Sixteen Appearances: 6 (1960, 1962, 1966, 1978, 1993, 2008) **
- NCAA Tournament Appearances: 23 (1940, 1960, 1962, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2024) **
- NCAAT Overall Record: 14-25 **
- NIT Championships: 0 (Runner-up in 1942)
- NIT Appearances: 15 (1942, 1943, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1965, 1982, 1992, 2005, 2006, 2018, 2021)
- NIT Overall Record: 13-16
- NAIA Tournament Appearances: 1 (1938)
- NAIA Tournament Overall Record: 0-1
Conference Titles (KIAC/SIAA, Ohio Valley, Sun Belt, Conference USA):
- Conference USA Regular Season Championships: 1 (2021)
- Sun Belt Regular Season Championships: 9 (1987, 1994, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009)
- Ohio Valley Regular Season Championships: 19 (1949, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1982)
- KIAC/SIAA Regular Season Championships: 14 (1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1947, 1948)
- Conference USA Tournament Championships: 1 (2024)
- Sun Belt Tournament Championships: 9 (1993, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013)
- Ohio Valley Tournament Championships: 10 (1949, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1965, 1966, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1981)
Award Winners:
- Naismith Player of the Year: 0
- John R. Wooden Award: 0
- Oscar Robertson Trophy: 0
- AP All-Americans: 3 (last = Jim McDaniels, 1971)
- Conference USA Player of the Year: 1 (Charles Bassey, 2021)
- Sun Belt Player of the Year: 7 (last = Orlando Mendez-Valdez, 2009)
- Ohio Valley Player of the Year: 7 (last = Johnny Britt, 1976)
Western Kentucky head coaches:
| Coach | Tenure | Record | Conf. Titles | NCAA Apps. | Nat. Champ |
| Hank Plona | 2024-Pres | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve Lutz | 2023-24 | 22-12 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Rick Stansbury | 2016-23 | 139-89 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Ray Harper | 2012-16 | 89-64 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Ken McDonald | 2008-12 | 67-49 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Darrin Horn | 2003-08 | 111-48 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Dennis Felton | 1998-2003 | 100-54 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Al Seibert (int.) | 1998 | 3-3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Matt Kilcullen | 1994-98 | 59-49 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Ralph Willard | 1990-94 | 81-42 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Murray Arnold | 1986-90 | 71-54 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Clem Haskins | 1980-86 | 101-73 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Gene Keady | 1978-80 | 38-19 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Jim Richards | 1971-78 | 102-84 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| John Oldham ** | 1964-71 | 142-40 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| E.A. Diddle | 1922-64 | 759-302 | 24 | 3 (1^) | 0 |
| L.T. Smith | 1921-22 | 3-1 | – | – | – |
| no team | 1916-21 | – | – | – | – |
| J.L. Arthur | 1914-16 | 7-2 | – | – | – |
Key: Conf. Titles= Regular Season only, NCAA Apps= NCAA Tournament Appearances, Nat. Champ= NCAA Tournament Champions
^ These appearances were in the NAIA Tournament
** Listed records and accomplishments do not include wins or appearances later vacated by the NCAA.AA.
