Report: Western Kentucky's Steve Lutz emerges as focus of Oklahoma State coaching search

Oklahoma State’s search to replace Mike Boynton is coming into focus. The Cowboys appear to be zeroing in on Western Kentucky head coach Steve Lutz, ESPN’s Jeff Borzello and Pete Thamel reported.

Lutz is emerging as the “focus” of the search, Borzello said. While nothing is done, he appears to be the primary candidate to replace Boynton after his departure.

Lutz just wrapped up his first season at WKU and took the Hilltoppers to the NCAA Tournament as the No. 15 seed. They went 22-12 overall and 8-8 in Conference USA action, but won the league tournament to secure an automatic bid to the big dance.

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Prior to WKU, Steve Lutz was the head coach at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi from 2021-23 and took the program to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments in his two years at the helm. He also has two lengthy stints as an assistant coach at Creighton and Purdue as part of his resume.

Oklahoma State announced its decision to part ways with Boynton on March 14 after seven seasons with the program. This past year, the Cowboys finished 12-20 overall and 4-14 in conference play, giving Boynton a 119-109 overall record at the helm.

Oklahoma State athletics director Chad Weiberg announced the decision in a statement.

“For seven years, Coach Boynton has led this program and represented this university with class,” Weiberg said. “We’re grateful for the genuine passion and care he has for the student-athletes on our team. Unfortunately, the desired results have not followed. Therefore, it is time to part ways and begin a new chapter. We wish Coach Boynton and his family the very best.”

Boynton worked his way up in the coaching ranks following an impressive playing career. Playing four seasons of college basketball at South Carolina where he ended his career finishing in the top ten in three-pointers made and fourth in career games played in program history, helping lead the Gamecocks to the NCAA Tournament in 2004.

Oklahoma State represented the first head coaching job for Boynton, making stops at Coastal Carolina, Wofford, his alma mater, Stephen F. Austin, and then Oklahoma State in 2016 before being named the 20th head coach of the Cowboys following Brad Underwood‘s departure for Illinois.

Boynton led the Cowboys to a 21–15 season in Year 1 with the program, which would go on to represent one of three 20-win seasons during his seven-year tenure. Ending his Oklahoma State career with 24 wins over nationally ranked teams, 11 against top-10 opponents, and five postseason victories.

Kaiden Smith contributed to this report.