Jim Mashek

HILLTOPPERS’ PLAYERS TURN OUT, EN MASSE, FOR INTRODUCTORY PRESS CONFERENCE

Western Kentucky University’s basketball tradition, its track record and potential all brought Hank Plona to the WKU campus from a successful junior-college program in Ottumwa, Iowa, less than one year ago.

“I wouldn’t have left for any random Division I school,” Plona said, “but I thought, ‘Western Kentucky …’ You hear that name, it pops off the page.”

It all came full circle on Wednesday morning, as Plona was introduced as Steve Lutz’s successor as the WKU men’s basketball head coach in a press conference at E.A. Diddle Arena. Plona, 38, becomes the 17th head coach in WKU history, and judging from the turnout of the Hilltoppers’ players, he’ll have plenty of talent to work with, in his first season at the program’s helm.

Western Kentucky caught fire last month in the Conference USA Tournament in Huntsville, Alabama, winning three games in as many days to earn its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2013. Lutz made it happen in his lone season with the Hilltoppers, before moving on to a more high-profile program at Oklahoma State University on Monday.

A relaxed, reassured Plona sat at the dais with WKU president Tim Caboni and Todd Stewart, the school’s athletic director, answering questions from the media but anxious to hit the ground running in his new job.

“I look forward to being the steward of this program,” Plona said, “of helping this program continue to move forward, and build on the success that we had this year.”

Lutz had been identified as Oklahoma State’s leading candidate nearly one week ago, but he didn’t tell Stewart that he was moving on to Stillwater until Monday, at which point the Hilltoppers’ brass identified the best strategy for continued success. And that clearly was Plona, the Connecticut native who had an amazing eight-year run as the head coach at Indian Hills Community College in Iowa.

Plona took Indian Hills to the NJCAA national tournament seven times in his eight seasons with the team, compiling an impressive 86.6 percent winning percentage and eight consecutive conference championships. Plus, he brought WKU teammates Don McHenry and Enoch Kalambay with him to Bowling Green, two of the key cogs in the Hilltoppers’ memorable 22-12 season.

After the Tops bowed out of the NCAA Tournament with a first-round loss to second-seeded Marquette University, Stewart said he learned of Oklahoma State’s interest in Lutz “before I even reached the state line.” Stewart said Plona has been involved in “every aspect” of building the program as Lutz’s right-hand man, including recruiting, player development, scouting and game planning.

“We’re not doing this because it’s the quickest solution,” Stewart said. “We’re not doing it because it’s the easiest solution. We’re doing it because it is the right solution for WKU basketball.”

Plona knew about the Hilltoppers’ tradition and reputation before he ever stepped on the WKU campus.

“I was aware of the historic nature of this program,” he said. “I know that Western Kentucky University, going back 50, 60, 70 years … has been one of the premier college basketball programs in the country, one of the first programs to integrate and have African-American basketball players … NCAA Tournament appearances, Sweet Sixteen appearances, winning games in the NCAA Tournament.

“It’s really an unbelievable opportunity.”

Plona’s annual salary of $500,000 is considerably less than what Lutz took in, over the last few months, but his four-year contract includes handsome $150,000 bonuses for a Conference USA regular-season championship or NCAA Tournament appearance.

Nearly the entire WKU roster turned out for Plona’s introductory press conference, including junior guard Don McHenry, an All-CUSA performer and the Hilltoppers’ leading scorer this season. McHenry said Plona’s hiring means the Hilltoppers’ roster will return largely intact for the 2024-25 season, including himself.

“We’re excited about Hank, we’re ready to go to work,” McHenry said.

Veteran guard Khristian Lander, one of the holdovers from former WKU coach Rick Stansbury’s final team, agreed.

“We had a group chat among a bunch of guys on the team,” Lander said. “We all thought Coach Hank was the best fit for the job. I have a really good feeling about it, for sure.”

Plona said the Hilltoppers will continue to play at an up-tempo pace, pointing out that Indian Hills never averaged less than 81 points per game in a single season. While the Hilltoppers had to come together quickly for the 2023-24 season, under Steve Lutz’s leadership, they’ll have plenty of continuity for Plona’s first season as the team’s head coach.

“I want us to be nationally relevant,” Plona said. “I don’t want to come out here and say, ‘We’re going to be 30-3 (next season), but we’re gonna try.’

“We want to build on what we did this past year.”