After seven seasons at the helm of the Western Kentucky men’s basketball team, head coach Rick Stansbury has officially resigned. The news was first reported by Stadium’s Jeff Goodman. In a press release, Stansbury cited health and family as reasons for his decision.
“This past season has been a challenging one, and I need some time to step away from things and focus on my health and my family,” Stansbury said. “This is a very difficult decision but the right one.”
During Stansbury’s tenure, the Hilltoppers enjoyed four 20-win seasons and three Conference USA Tournament title game appearances. However, they failed to make the NCAA Tournament during his time on the Hill.
The Hilltoppers came close to securing an NCAA Tournament bid in recent years but fell short in the Conference USA Tournament. In 2018, they lost to Marshall, and in 2019, they fell to Old Dominion. In 2020, the tournament was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and in 2021, they lost the championship game in overtime to North Texas.
Stansbury’s absence from nine regular season games due to health issues during the 2022-23 season may have contributed to the team’s struggles. The Hilltoppers finished the season 17-16 overall and 8-12 in conference play, placing 7th of 11 teams in the C-USA rankings.
One of the biggest setbacks for the team came in their regular season finale, where they suffered a 34-point loss to the University of North Texas. Stansbury took responsibility for the team’s performance and praised his players and coaches for their efforts.
“You know, I put the team in a bad position. I’ve said many a time, coaches did a great job, players did a great job of staying together, but missing the first nine games of conference play, it’s hard on those guys, and they deserve a lot of credit,” Stansbury said.
Despite the team’s struggles, the Hilltoppers won the Conference USA East Division Championship in 2021. This is the team’s only title since joining C-USA in 2014.
Looking ahead, the Western Kentucky men’s basketball team faces a period of transition as they search for a new head coach to lead the program. Stansbury’s resignation marks the end of an era, and it remains to be seen what changes a new coach might bring to the team. Nevertheless, the Hilltoppers will undoubtedly continue to strive for success on the court as they look to make their way back to the NCAA Tournament in the years to come.
The rumor mill has Will Wade in the mix.
In the 2022-23 season, Stansbury was originally in the last year of his contract with Western Kentucky. However, last fall he was given a four-year extension, taking his contract through to June 30, 2026.
We're making a change at the head coaching position. #GoTops https://t.co/zhbLYONkXs
— WKU Hilltopper Basketball (@WKUBasketball) March 11, 2023
