WKU Basketball: Hank Plona Named Western Kentucky's 17th Men's Basketball Head Coach
Plona was head assistant this past season, having previously been head coach for eight seasons at Indian Hills Community College.
Shortly after WKU’s loss in the NCAA Tournament, rumors were already swirling that Steve Lutz may make a move upward, and lo and behold, after a surprisingly long dance with Oklahoma State, Steve Lutz is out, and Hank Plona, current WKU Head Assistant Coach, has been announced as WKU’s 17th Men’s Basketball Head Coach.
Preston Spradlin from Morehead was rumored early, but he surprised a lot of people and signed with James Madison for less than what Steve Lutz was paid, perhaps suggesting that he was never really in serious contention for the WKU job.
No, all signs point to Hank Plona being the man from the moment it was possible Steve Lutz was leaving. Do we know that with all certainty? No, but the Transfer Portal has been awful silent despite the end of a season and a coach leaving. From this season’s roster, only Rodney Howard is the only player who certainly cannot play another year on The Hill, or anywhere in college for that matter. His eligibility is exhausted. Everyone else either is an underclassman, has a COVID year, a redshirt, or is appealing with the NCAA for an extra year (Jalen Jackson).
The biggest question, besides whether Plona can coach, is whether this roster stays intact. Much like when Ken McDonald took over in 2009, WKU’s roster could possibly be fairly intact, add a few pieces in, and ride to the NCAA Tournament even if the coach is not that great.
Quick Facts on Hank Plona
2007 graduate from Providence College
2009-2015 assistant coach at various community/junior colleges
2015-23 head coach at Indian Hills Community College
225-35 (.865) record
2023-24 WKU Assistant Coach
Single with no children
According to several sources, a “true basketball junkie”. Going further, “He eats, sleeps, and drinks basketball.”
58 players moved to Division I, and 20 are now playing professionally
Coached Don McHenry and Enoch Kalambay at IHCC
Players reportedly love and respect him despite a demanding coaching style
Looking Backward and Moving Forward
WKU Basketball snapped its 11 year drought in 2024, finally appearing in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013. Western Kentucky stands at or near the top of college basketball in several historical categories, including 20 win seasons, NCAA Tournament appearances, all-time wins, and is one of the top “mid-major” programs in the history of college basketball.
WKU’s fan base is activated after starving for years. Topper fans should be ready to jump all-in to a turbo-charged offseason and be counting down the days until basketball season starts.
Western Kentucky basketball is back, and although Plona may not ber proven at a Division I level, the fact that he will probably retain a good portion of this roster on top of having eight years of an 87 percent winning percentage at another level should fare well for him.
Most often the success of a man is about his gifts and not his experience. Certainly, exterior labels don’t determine whether someone has “the goods”. The gifts we know of are familiarity, youth, and winning. We also know he is fully engaged and not distracted from anything but WKU Basketball. We also know he has a presence that commands respect while still being human enough for his players to want to be around him.
It remains to be seen how Hank Plona works out, but WKU has its 17th head coach, and Bowling Green, Kentucky, is about to have its Big Red fan base back and active cheering on (and believing in) the Tops.
It’s time to Stand Up and Cheer for Dear Old Western once again.
GO TOPS!
I'm on the Hank Plona bandwagon. In the oozing primordial fan page known as the Hilltopper Haven, I often complained that WKU coaching changes never had the continuity of building a program with a consistent style of play. I hope I'm right about that, and that Coach Plona continues with the same style of play exhibited by this year's team. I loved watching them play and followed the team to Huntsville and Indiana-no-place. Go Hilltoppers!