# List of Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball seasons

This is season-by-season results for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team.

## Season-by-season results

Statistics overview :
| Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason |
| Coach J.L. Arthur (Independent) (1914–1916) ||||||
| 1914–15 | Western Kentucky State Normal School | 5–1 | | | |
| 1915–16 | WKS | 2–1 | | | |
| J.L.Arthur: | J.L.Arthur: | 7–2 (.875) | | | |
| No Team (World War I) (1916–1921) ||||||
| Coach L.T. Smith (Independent) (1921–1922) ||||||
| 1921–22 | Western Kentucky State Normal School and Teachers College | 3–1 | | | |
| L.T.Smith: | L.T.Smith: | 3–1 (.750) | | | |
| Coach E. A. Diddle (Independent) (1922–1926) ||||||
| 1922–23 | WKS | 12–2 | | | |
| 1923–24 | WKS | 9–9 | | | |
| 1924–25 | WKS | 8–6 | | | |
| 1925–26 | WKS | 10–4 | | | |
| Coach E. A. Diddle (Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (1926–1948) ||||||
| 1926–27 | WKS | 12–7 | | | |
| 1927–28 | WKS | 10–7 | | | |
| 1928–29 | WKS | 8–10 | | | |
| 1929–30 | WKS | 4–12 | | | |
| 1930–31 | WKS | 11–3 | | | |
| 1931–32 | WKS | 15–8 | | 1st KIAC | |
| 1932–33 | WKS | 16–6 | | 1st KIAC | |
| 1933–34 | WKS | 28–8 | | 1st KIAC 1st SIAA | |
| 1934–35 | WKS | 24–3 | | 1st KIAC | |
| 1935–36 | WKS | 26–4 | | 1st KIAC | National Olympic Playoffs |
| 1936–37 | WKS | 21–2 | | 1st KIAC 1st SIAA | |
| 1937–38 | WKS | 30–3 | | 1st KIAC 1st SIAA | NIBT (withdrew/forfeit) |
| 1938–39 | WKS | 22–3 | | 1st KIAC 1st SIAA | |
| 1939–40 | WKS | 24–6 | | 1st KIAC 1st SIAA | NCAA Elite 8 |
| 1940–41 | WKS | 22–4 | | 1st SIAA | |
| 1941–42 | WKS | 29–5 | | 1st KIAC 1st SIAA | NIT Runner Up |
| 1942–43 | WKS | 24–3 | | 1st KIAC | NIT Quarterfinals |
| 1943–44 | WKS | 13–9 | | | |
| 1944–45 | WKS | 17–10 | | | |
| 1945–46 | WKS | 15–19 | | | |
| 1946–47 | WKS | 25–4 | | 1st KIAC 1st SIAA | |
| 1947–48 | Western Kentucky State College | 28–2 | | 1st KIAC NCAA Annual Team Champions | NIT 3rd place |
| Coach E. A. Diddle (Ohio Valley Conference) (1948–1964) ||||||
| 1948–49 | WKSC | 25–4 | 8–2 | 1st | NIT Quarterfinals |
| 1949–50 | WKSC | 25–6 | 8–0 | 1st | NIT Quarterfinals |
| 1950–51 | WKSC | 19–10 | 4–4 | 4th | NCBT 1st Round |
| 1951–52 | WKSC | 26–5 | 11–1 | 1st | NIT Quarterfinals |
| 1952–53 | WKSC | 25–6 | 8–2 | 2nd | NIT Quarterfinals |
| 1953–54 | WKSC | 29–3 | 9–1 | 1st | NIT 4th Place |
| 1954–55 | WKSC | 18–10 | 8–2 | 1st | |
| 1955–56 | WKSC | 16–12 | 7–3 | T–1st | |
| 1956–57 | WKSC | 17–9 | 9–1 | T–1st | |
| 1957–58 | WKSC | 14–11 | 5–5 | 3rd | |
| 1958–59 | WKSC | 16–10 | 8–4 | 2nd | |
| 1959–60 | WKSC | 21–7 | 10–2 | 1st | NCAA Sweet Sixteen |
| 1960–61 | WKSC | 18–8 | 9–3 | T–1st | |
| 1961–62 | WKSC | 17–10 | 11–1 | 1st | NCAA Sweet Sixteen |
| 1962–63 | WKSC | 5–16 | 3–9 | 7th | |
| 1963–64 | WKSC | 5–16 | 3–11 | 8th | |
| E. A. Diddle: | E. A. Diddle: | 759–302 (.715) | 121–51 | | |
| Coach John Oldham (Ohio Valley Conference) (1964–1971) ||||||
| 1964–65 | WKSC | 18–9 | 10–4 | 2nd | NIT Quarterfinals |
| 1965–66 | Western Kentucky University | 25–3 | 14–0 | 1st | NCAA Sweet Sixteen |
| 1966–67 | WKU | 23–3 | 13–1 | 1st | NCAA round of 23 |
| 1967–68 | WKU | 18–7 | 9–5 | 3rd | |
| 1968–69 | WKU | 16–10 | 9–5 | 3rd | |
| 1969–70 | WKU | 22–3 | 14–0 | 1st | NCAA round of 25 |
| 1970–71 | WKU | 24–6 | 12–2 | 1st | NCAA Final Four * |
| John Oldham: | John Oldham: | 142–40 (.780) | 81–17 | | |
| Coach Jim Richards (Ohio Valley Conference) (1971–1978) ||||||
| 1971–72 | WKU | 15–11 | 9–5 | T–1st | |
| 1972–73 | WKU | 10–16 | 6–8 | 6th | (NCAA Probation) |
| 1973–74 | WKU | 15–10 | 8–6 | 4th | (NCAA Probation) |
| 1974–75 | WKU | 16–8 | 11–3 | 2nd | (NCAA Probation) |
| 1975–76 | WKU | 20–9 | 11–3 | 1st | NCAA round of 32 |
| 1976–77 | WKU | 10–16 | 6–8 | T–5th | |
| 1977–78 | WKU | 16–14 | 9–5 | T–3rd | NCAA Sweet Sixteen |
| Jim Richards: | Jim Richards: | 102–84 (.548) | 60–38 | | |
| Coach Gene Keady (Ohio Valley Conference) (1978–1980) ||||||
| 1978–79 | WKU | 17–11 | 7–5 | T–2nd | |
| 1979–80 | WKU | 21–8 | 10–2 | T–1st | NCAA round of 48 |
| Gene Keady: | Gene Keady: | 38–19 (.667) | 17–7 | | |
| Coach Clem Haskins (Ohio Valley Conference) (1980–1982) ||||||
| 1980–81 | WKU | 21–8 | 12–2 | 1st | NCAA round of 48 |
| 1981–82 | WKU | 19–10 | 13–3 | T–1st | NIT 1st Round |
| Coach Clem Haskins (Sun Belt Conference) (1982–1986) ||||||
| 1982–83 | WKU | 12–16 | 4–10 | 7th | |
| 1983–84 | WKU | 12–17 | 5–9 | 6th | |
| 1984–85 | WKU | 14–14 | 5–9 | 7th | |
| 1985–86 | WKU | 23–8 | 10–4 | 2nd | NCAA round of 32 |
| Clem Haskins: | Clem Haskins: | 101–73 (.580) | 49–37 | | |
| Coach Murray Arnold (Sun Belt Conference) (1986–1990) ||||||
| 1986–87 | WKU | 29–9 | 12–2 | 1st | NCAA round of 32 |
| 1987–88 | WKU | 15–13 | 6–8 | 6th | |
| 1988–89 | WKU | 14–15 | 4–10 | 7th | |
| 1989–90 | WKU | 13–17 | 7–7 | T–3rd | |
| Murray Arnold: | Murray Arnold: | 71–54 (.568) | 29–27 | | |
| Coach Ralph Willard (Sun Belt Conference) (1990–1994) ||||||
| 1990–91 | WKU | 14–14 | 8–6 | T–3rd | |
| 1991–92 | WKU | 21–11 | 10–6 | 4th | NIT 1st Round |
| 1992–93 | WKU | 26–6 | 14–4 | 2nd | NCAA Sweet Sixteen |
| 1993–94 | WKU | 20–11 | 14–4 | 1st | NCAA round of 64 |
| Ralph Willard: | Ralph Willard: | 81–42 (.667) | 46–20 | | |
| Coach Matt Kilcullen (Sun Belt Conference) (1994–1998) ||||||
| 1994–95 | WKU | 27–4 | 17–1 | 1st | NCAA round of 32 |
| 1995–96 | WKU | 13–14 | 10–8 | T–3rd | |
| 1996–97 | WKU | 12–15 | 9–9 | T–6th | |
| 1997–98 | WKU | 7–16 | 4–10 | – | – |
| Matt Kilcullen: | Matt Kilcullen: | 59–49 (.546) | 42–30 | | |
| Ron Brown and Al Seibert (named co-Head Coaches for last 6 games) (Sun Belt Conference) (1998–1998) ||||||
| 1997–98 | WKU | 3–3 | 2–2 | T–8th | |
| Ron Brown and Al Seibert: | Ron Brown and Al Seibert: | 3–3 (.500) | 2–2 | | |
| Coach Dennis Felton (Sun Belt Conference) (1998–2003) ||||||
| 1998–99 | WKU | 13–16 | 7–7 | T–3rd | |
| 1999–00 | WKU | 11–18 | 8–8 | 5th | |
| 2000–01 | WKU | 24–7 | 14–2 | 1st (East) | NCAA round of 64 |
| 2001–02 | WKU | 28–4 | 13–1 | 1st (East) | NCAA round of 64 |
| 2002–03 | WKU | 24–9 | 12–2 | 1st (East) | NCAA round of 64 |
| Dennis Felton: | Dennis Felton: | 100–54 (.649) | 54–20 (.730) | | |
| Coach Darrin Horn (Sun Belt Conference) (2003–2008) ||||||
| 2003–04 | WKU | 15–13 | 8–6 | 5th | |
| 2004–05 | WKU | 22–9 | 9–5 | 2nd (East) | NIT 2nd Round |
| 2005–06 | WKU | 23–8 | 12–2 | 1st (East) | NIT 1st Round |
| 2006–07 | WKU | 22–11 | 12–6 | 2nd (East) | |
| 2007–08 | WKU | 29–7 | 16–2 | T–1st (East) | NCAA Sweet Sixteen |
| Darrin Horn: | Darrin Horn: | 111–48 (.698) | 57–21 (.731) | | |
| Coach Ken McDonald (Sun Belt Conference) (2008–2012) ||||||
| 2008–09 | WKU | 25–8 | 15–3 | 1st (East) | NCAA round of 32 |
| 2009–10 | WKU | 21–13 | 12–6 | 3rd (East) | |
| 2010–11 | WKU | 16–16 | 8–8 | 3rd (East) | |
| 2011–12 | WKU | 5–11 | 1–2 | – | – |
| Ken McDonald: | Ken McDonald: | 67–48 (.583) | 36–19 (.655) | | |
| Ray Harper (named interim Head Coach after 16 games) (Sun Belt Conference) (2012–2014) ||||||
| 2011–12 | WKU | 11–8 | 10–7 | T–3rd (East) | NCAA round of 64 |
| 2012–13 | WKU | 20–16 | 10–10 | 4th (East) | NCAA round of 64 |
| 2013–14 | WKU | 21–11 | 12–6 | 2nd | |
| Coach Ray Harper (Conference USA) (2014–2016) ||||||
| 2014–15 | WKU | 20–12 | 12–6 | 4th | |
| 2015–16 | WKU | 18–16 | 8–10 | 8th | |
| Ray Harper: | Ray Harper: | 90–63 (.588) | 42–34 (.553) | | |
| Coach Rick Stansbury (Conference USA) (2016–2023) ||||||
| 2016–17 | WKU | 15–17 | 9–9 | 8th | |
| 2017–18 | WKU | 27–11 | 14–4 | 3rd | NIT Final Four |
| 2018–19 | WKU | 20–14 | 11–7 | 2nd | |
| 2019–20 | WKU | 20–10 | 13–5 | 2nd | (Tournaments cancelled) |
| 2020–21 | WKU | 21–8 | 11-3 | 1st (East) | NIT Quarterfinals |
| 2021–22 | WKU | 19–13 | 11-7 | 2nd (East) | |
| 2022–23 | WKU | 17–16 | 8-12 | 6th | Stansbury missed 9 games with health issues. Phil Cunningham coached the team during those games winning 3 and losing 6. |
| Rick Stansbury: | Rick Stansbury: | 136–83 (.621) | 74–41 (.643) | | |
| Coach Steve Lutz (Conference USA) (2023–2024) ||||||
| 2023–24 | WKU | 22–12 | 8–8 | 3rd | NCAA round of 64 |
| Steve Lutz: | Steve Lutz: | 22–12 (.647) | 8–8 (.500) | | |
| Coach Hank Plona (Conference USA) (2024–present) ||||||
| 2024–25 | WKU | 17–15 | 8–10 | 7th | |
| Hank Plona: | Hank Plona: | 17–15 (.531) | 8–10 (.444) | | |
| Total: | Total: | 1912–997 (.657) | | | |
| National champion   Postseason invitational champion   Conference regular season champion   Conference regular season and conference tournament champion  Division regular season champion  Division regular season and conference tournament champion  Conference tournament champion ||||||
BOLD indicates lead the NCAA in victories. NCAA – National Collegiate Athletic Association NIT – National Invitation Tournament NCBT – National Campus Basketball Tournament NIBT – National Intercollegiate Basketball tournament * 1971 NCAA appearance, including 4 tournament wins, vacated by the NCAA

## Rankings

The Associated Press (AP) began publishing a national college basketball poll during the 1948–49 season. The Coaches Poll began during the 1950–51 season. The highest that Western Kentucky has been ranked in the AP poll is number 3 (1949, 1954, and 1967); the highest they have been ranked in the Coaches poll is 4th in 1954. The AP poll was a top 20 poll from 1949 to 1960; a top 10 poll from 1961 to 1968; a top 20 from 1969 to 1989; and a top 25 poll since 1990. The Coaches poll started as a top 20 poll in 1950 and remained such until 1991 when it became a top 25 poll. Below is the team's highest ranking and final season ranking for each poll (it does not include times when Western Kentucky was listed as “receiving votes”).
| Season | AP High | AP Final | Coach High | Coach Final |
| 1948-49 | 3 | 5 | N/A | N/A |
| 1949-50 | 7 | 8 | N/A | N/A |
| 1950-51 | | | 13 | |
| 1951-52 | 11 | | 16 | 16 |
| 1952-53 | 8 | 17 | 11 | 11 |
| 1953-54 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 6 |
| 1954-55 | 20 | | | |
| 1956-57 | 12 | | 10 | |
| 1957-58 | 16 | | | |
| 1959-60 | 18 | | | |
| 1960-61 | | | 19 | |
| 1965-66 | 10 | 10 | 14 | |
| 1966-67 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 7 |
| 1967-68 | | | 16 | |
| 1968-69 | 15 | | 14 | |
| 1969-70 | 12 | 18 | 15 | 17 |
| 1970-71 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 7 |
| 1985-86 | 19 | | | |
| 1986-87 | 8 | | 10 | |
| 1992-93 | 20 | 20 | 16 | 16 |
| 1993-94 | 25 | | | |
| 1994-95 | 21 | 21 | | |
| 2001-02 | 17 | 19 | 18 | |
| 2002-03 | 19 | | 23 | |
| 2007-08 | | | 22 | 22 |