One decade ago Donte Pimpleton was on the field during one of WKU’s winningest eras.

Pimpleton, who played quarterback and wide receiver at WKU from 1997-2001, was on teams that had a winning record in each season he played.

And now as former teammate and current coach Willie Taggart leads the Toppers’ resurgence, Pimpleton has become a full-time assistant.

Pimpleton, who served the last two years as an offensive assistant, is now WKU’s wide receivers coach, the school announced Monday.

He replaces Zach Azzanni, who left for Wisconsin in January after one season as offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach.

“I’ve been waiting for this opportunity for a long time,” Pimpleton said. “It feels good to be back at the school I started and played at.

“I know these guys, a lot of them have been here since I got here, the transition has been kind of easy. I know the system, I know what Coach ‘T’ expects, so it’s been great so far.”

Pimpleton will take over a receiving unit that struggled in 2011.

WKU’s leading wide receiver one year ago, Boe Brand, caught just 14 passes.

By comparison, tight end Jack Doyle had 52 receptions and running back Bobby Rainey had 36.

“I think Donte will do a great job with our receivers and get them going,” Taggart said. “Again, that’s another part of our program that we’ve got to upgrade and I think Donte will be the guy that gets that done for us.”

Pimpleton said he’ll preach timing to his receivers in Taggart’s pro-style, run-oriented system.

“You’ve got to be where you’re supposed to be, when you’re supposed to be there because everything’s about timing with the quarterback,” Pimpleton said. “You’ve got to know what you’re doing, get there and be on time.”

Pimpleton, a Louisville native and former Fern Creek High School standout, finished his WKU career with 1,425 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns.

He also threw for two scores and caught 13 passes for 165 yards and four touchdowns.

He earned honorable mention all-Gateway Conference honors in 2001.