Report: Western Kentucky’s Steve Lutz Emerging as ‘Serious Candidate’ for Oklahoma State Vacancy

After a search that has lasted two weeks, the Cowboys might finally be closing in on their next basketball coach.

Western Kentucky’s Steve Lutz is emerging as a “serious candidate” in Oklahoma State’s search, according to college basketball insider Jon Rothstein. Lutz recently finished his first season with the Hilltoppers, leading WKU to the NCAA Tournament and a 22-12 record. The Hilltoppers won the Conference USA tournament.

Before his time in Bowling Green, Lutz spent two seasons as Texas A&M-Corpus Christi’s coach, leading the Islanders to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, just their second and third tourney bids in program history. So for those keeping track, Lutz has made the Big Dance every year he has been a head coach. He also has a 69-35 record over those three seasons with three conference tournament wins and a conference regular-season title.

Before his time as a head coach, Lutz was a longtime assistant at Purdue, Creighton, SMU, Stephen F. Austin, Garden City Community College and Incarnate Word. He is credited with recruiting Naismith Player of the Year Zach Edey to the Boilermakers.

Oklahoma State has had an opening since firing Mike Boynton on March 14 after the Cowboys finished 12-20 in Boynton’s seventh season.