Western Kentucky
Also known as Hilltoppers, Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, Western Kentucky State Normal, Western Kentucky State Normal Hilltoppers, Western Kentucky State Teachers Hilltoppers, Western KY, WKU, WKU Hilltoppers.
Conference USAFBS
Head coach
Tyson Helton41On staff
2026Season
0Open seats2025-26 cycle
Current staff
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
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1999
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1996
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1991
1990
1989
1988
1987
1986
1985
1984
1983
1982
1981
1980
1979
1978
1977
1976
1975
1974
1973
1972
1971
1970
1969
1968
Head coach
1
- 2019–presentTyson HeltonHead Coach
Coordinators
5
- 2026–presentJoe BernardiCo-Offensive CoordinatorOffensive Line
- 2026–presentBodie ReederOffensive CoordinatorQuarterbacks
- 2025–presentJimmy LindseyRun Game CoordinatorDefensive LineEdge
- 2026–presentDavis MerrittDefensive CoordinatorInside Linebackers
- 2024–presentAndy LarussaAssistant Head CoachSpecial Teams Coordinator
Position coaches
22
- 2026–presentRyne StricklandOffensive LineQuality Control Coach
- 2026–presentTrevor BorlandQuarterbacksQuality Control Coach
- 2025–presentBryan ApplewhiteRunning Backs
- 2026–presentCJ MartinezRunning BacksQuality Control Coach
- 2019–presentGarret ChachereRunning Backs
- 2026–presentElvin FofanahTight EndsQuality Control Coach
- 2025–presentKevin O'BrienTight Ends
- 2026–presentCarson BurgessWide ReceiversQuality Control Coach
- 2025–presentJason BarnesWide Receivers
- 2024–presentJason MartinCornerbacks
- 2026–presentDean ShafferDefensive BacksQuality Control Coach
- 2025–presentTerrion ThompsonDefensive LineQuality Control Coach
- 2026–presentDayton LeBlancDefensive Tackles
- 2026–presentAnthony BrackenridgeLinebackersQuality Control Coach
- 2026–presentStaymon JohnsonLinebackersQuality Control Coach
- 2026–presentKaRon WhiteOutside LinebackersQuality Control Coach
- 2026–presentDavid MetcalfSafeties
- 2026–presentChase BitowfAssistant Coach
- 2026–presentImari HazelwoodAssistant Coach
- 2026–presentJustin BrownAssistant Coach
- 2026–presentMichael KlemmAssistant Coach
- 2026–presentTravis TaylorAssistant Coach
Analysts
3
- 2026–presentMatt PulfordSpecial Teams Quality Control
- 2026–presentDylan FergusonGraduate Assistant
- 2026–presentDevon LynchQuality Control Coach
Operations
5
- 2026–presentDanielle KucharskiAssistant Video Coordinator
- 2026–presentAshley TerhuneDirector of Recruiting
- 2026–presentChase LaneDirector of Scouting
- 2026–presentCharlie WeinbergEquipment Manager
- 2026–presentZach KrammeGeneral ManagerDirector of Player Personnel
Performance
5
- 2026–presentKylee Jackson-CookAssistant Director of Sports Nutrition
- 2026–presentDarius HollandAssistant Strength and Conditioning Coach
- 2026–presentSpencer FieldAssistant Strength and Conditioning Coach
- 2026–presentTyler MaloneAssistant Strength and Conditioning Coach
- 2026–presentJason VeltkampDirector of Strength and Conditioning
Open seats
No open seats.
Every seat Western Kentucky vacated in the 2025-26 cycle has been filled, and no departure has been published since. A seat appears here the moment one is.
Turnover
Last 15 seasons
- Head coach
- Coordinator
- Position coach
- Analyst
- Operations
- Performance
| Season | Hires | Departures |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 6 | 11 |
| 2013 | 7 | 6 |
| 2014 | 5 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 | 4 |
| 2016 | 6 | 9 |
| 2017 | 10 | 4 |
| 2018 | 1 | 5 |
| 2019 | 5 | 2 |
| 2020 | 2 | 5 |
| 2021 | 5 | 5 |
| 2022 | 10 | 7 |
| 2023 | 9 | 5 |
| 2024 | 6 | 10 |
| 2025 | 14 | 9 |
| 2026 | 51 | 20 |
Where they are now
12 of 46
- Left 2024Chad StaggsDefensive Analyst → dc at East Tennessee StateCoordinator
- Left 2024Dontez ByrdOffensive Quality Control → Wide Receivers at NichollsPosition coach
- Left 2024Tyson SummersDefensive Coordinator → Defensive Coordinator at Colorado StateCoordinator
- Left 2023Jamar ChaneyOutside Linebackers → Inside Linebackers at BaylorPosition coach
- Left 2023Micheal SpurlockWide Receivers → Wide Receivers at Ole MissPosition coach
- Left 2023William VlachosAssistant Coach → Defensive Analyst at Colorado StateAnalyst
- Left 2022Ben ArbuckleCo-Offensive Coordinator → Offensive Coordinator at OklahomaCoordinator
- Left 2022Michael HutchingsOutside Linebackers → Defensive Coordinator at CaliforniaCoordinator
- Left 2021Bryan EllisCo-Offensive Coordinator → Quarterbacks at AlabamaPosition coach
- Left 2021Carlos LocklynRunning Backs → Running Backs at Ohio StatePosition coach
- Left 2021Maurice Crum Jr.Defensive Coordinator → Co-Defensive Coordinator at SMUCoordinator
- Left 2021Zach KittleyOffensive Coordinator → Head Coach at Florida AtlanticHead coach
Moves
No published moves at Western Kentucky in this window.
Moves appear here as they are published, each one carrying its source.