Steve Lutz on being hired at Oklahoma State: 'It's a responsibility that I don't take lightly'

New Oklahoma State basketball Steve Lutz is ready for the next challenge and that’s leading the Cowboys to success.

It seems like he’s serious too. Lutz was honest about expectations and what he wants to do for this program in the Big 12. 

Lutz was all business in his opening press conference.

“I’d like to thank Chad Weiberg and Dr. Shrum for entrusting me with one of college basketball’s most storied programs. It’s a responsibility that I don’t take lightly,” Lutz said in a release. “Cowboy Nation — I look forward to meeting you all soon and hitting the ground running. Know that my staff and I will work diligently to recruit and retain hardworking kids who will represent you well, on and off the court, and consistently compete for Big 12 championships.”

Athletic director Chad Weiberg was eager to bring Lutz aboard.

“Coach Lutz is known as one of the hardest-working coaches in the business,” Weiberg said. “He has worked at all levels of college basketball and has deep ties to this part of the country, especially Texas. The work he has put into his career has resulted in success as a head coach and why I believe he is the right person to be the leader of Cowboy Basketball.”

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.

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 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.