WKU Athletics held its introductory press conference for new head coach Steve Lutz on Monday, March 20, at the Jack and Jackie Harbaugh Stadium club.

“We know that there are expectations around Hilltopper basketball,” WKU President Timothy Caboni said. “We are going to meet those expectations. I know that we have the right coach to do that.”

Lutz comes to the Hill following a very successful stint at Texas A&M Corpus-Christi. Lutz took over the Islander program after a rough 5-19 season. He immediately turned the team around, winning 23 games and a Southland tournament title. In Lutz’s two years as the Head coach of Corpus-Christi, he accumulated 47 total wins, two conference tournament championships, and a win in the NCAA tournament. 

“What Steve Lutz did at Texas A&M Corpus-Christi was remarkable,” WKU Athletic Director Todd Stewart said.

Lutz will take over a Hilltopper program that struggled under former coach Rick Stansbury. WKU went without an appearance in the NCAA tournament during the seven years Stansbury was at the helm. WKU last made an appearance in the big dance in 2013 under Ray Harper. 

“ We’re here to win games,” Lutz said. “ We’re here to win conference championships. We’re here to go to the NCAA tournament and win games.”

Lutz said he will bring an aggressive style of play to both sides of the ball. Getting shots off within 12 seconds of the shot clock and an intense defense will be major factors in Lutz’s gameplan. 

“On both sides of the ball we will be very aggressive,” Lutz said. “We will be very entertaining.”