WKU men’s basketball has officially finalized its coaching staff for the upcoming 2024-25 season, as announced by head coach Hank Plona on Friday.
Following a successful 2023-24 season, where the Hilltoppers claimed the Conference USA Tournament title and secured a spot in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, the team looks forward to building on that success. Plona, in his first season as head coach after serving as an assistant last year, was crucial to the team’s achievements.
Plona previously coached at Indian Hills Community College in Iowa for eight seasons, boasting an impressive 225-35 (.865%) record and leading the Warriors to the NJCAA National Tournament seven times.
He expressed great trust in his coaching staff: “I am very excited about the staff we’ve assembled. I have worked with each person before and trust their abilities, strengths, and character.”
Josh Newman joins as an assistant, bringing 26 years of experience, most recently from the University of the Pacific, where he was an associate head coach before briefly serving as interim head coach during the 2024 West Coast Conference Tournament.
Eric Murphy also joins the staff as an assistant after leading Florida Southwestern State College for six seasons, achieving a remarkable 143-34 record (.829 winning percentage) and winning multiple conference titles.
Returning assistants Martin Cross and Tim MacAllister will continue their roles, with Cross entering his tenth season and MacAllister his second.
Darryl Jackson returns as an assistant while taking on a new operations role, focusing on academics and player development. Wyatt Battaile, formerly a graduate assistant, has been promoted to Director of Player Development and Video.
Coach Plona noted the importance of returning staff: “They played a significant role in our NCAA Tournament season and help foster a winning culture.”
Additionally, two new graduate assistants, Henoc Bienne and Devontae Lane, join the team. Bienne has experience as a graduate assistant at Indian Hills CC and Iowa State, while Lane had a notable playing career at Indian Hills and Central Michigan University.
Hilltopper Basketball is set to kick off the 2024-25 season in November, with more details about their schedule to be announced soon. For updates, follow the team on social media (@wkubasketball) and check wkusports.com.
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