Sources Oklahoma State targets Steve Lutz for coaching job

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Western Kentucky's Steve Lutz has emerged as the focus of Oklahoma State's search for a new men's basketball coach, sources told ESPN on Thursday.

There is no deal finalized, sources said, but Lutz is the primary candidate.

Lutz is coming off his third consecutive NCAA tournament appearance, leading the Hilltoppers to the Conference USA tournament title in his first season. It was the program's first NCAA tournament appearance since 2013, and the Hilltoppers' 22 wins was their most since 2018.

Before replacing Rick Stansbury at Western Kentucky last spring, Lutz was the head coach at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders for two seasons -- going to the NCAA tournament in both campaigns. The Islanders hadn't been to the NCAA tournament since 2007, but Lutz led them to the Southland Conference tournament title both seasons and to a regular-season championship in 2023.

Lutz was a longtime Division I assistant coach before being hired at Corpus Christi, serving four seasons under Matt Painter at Purdue and seven seasons under Greg McDermott at Creighton as well as spending time on the staffs at SMU and Stephen F. Austin.

Oklahoma State fired Mike Boynton earlier this month after seven seasons. The Cowboys made one NCAA tournament appearance under Boynton and produced the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA draft in Cade Cunningham.