Since Steve Lutz's hiring, there has been little news coming out of WKU with regards to recruiting and hiring a coaching staff. Is Lutz making any inroads rebuilding the Hilltoppers we are not hearing about outside of Bowling Green?

(04-23-2023 01:35 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  Since Steve Lutz's hiring, there has been little news coming out of WKU with regards to recruiting and hiring a coaching staff. Is Lutz making any inroads rebuilding the Hilltoppers we are not hearing about outside of Bowling Green?

Good question. It's been pretty quiet, news-wise, on the Western front. Maybe others will be able to give a status report but i havent heard much.

2 coaches have been hired but no official announcements have been made yet. Martin Cross is being kept from the prior staff and former Georgia Southern and Texas Tech assistant coach Tim MacAllister is the other one. He will hire a new director of Ops and one more assistant as well. We had 3 portal recruits on campus this weekend and more are expected next weekend. Should start to see players and coaches rolling in the next few weeks.

(04-23-2023 01:35 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  Since Steve Lutz's hiring, there has been little news coming out of WKU with regards to recruiting and hiring a coaching staff. Is Lutz making any inroads rebuilding the Hilltoppers we are not hearing about outside of Bowling Green?

Disclaimer we have zero local media in BG covering WKU, so its all about sources on 247 WKUInsider MB discussing and Twitter. I saw the huge disparity right off the bat on the coaches search comparing ours to yours. Be thankful NMSU has at least adequate coverage of NMSU sports, BG has nothing at the moment. We hadzero articles on HC search, mentions, etc. untill literally Saturday morning someone told our local Newspaper camera guy Lutz was landing at BG airport that Saturday at 3. He was surprised to find out others saw flighttracker day before showing Saturday Lutz was landing at BG International Airport. We had eyes on MB that Friday night plane from CC. Its big time sad how little media we have now covering WKU sports.

(04-24-2023 09:10 AM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  

(04-23-2023 01:35 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  Since Steve Lutz's hiring, there has been little news coming out of WKU with regards to recruiting and hiring a coaching staff. Is Lutz making any inroads rebuilding the Hilltoppers we are not hearing about outside of Bowling Green?

Disclaimer we have zero local media in BG covering WKU, so its all about sources on 247 WKUInsider MB discussing and Twitter. I saw the huge disparity right off the bat on the coaches search comparing ours to yours. Be thankful NMSU has at least adequate coverage of NMSU sports, BG has nothing at the moment. We hadzero articles on HC search, mentions, etc. untill literally Saturday morning someone told our local Newspaper camera guy Lutz was landing at BG airport that Saturday at 3. He was surprised to find out others saw flighttracker day before showing Saturday Lutz was landing at BG International Airport. We had eyes on MB that Friday night plane from CC. Its big time sad how little media we have now covering WKU sports.

That "camera guy" is GM of the newspaper with the new ownership group that just came in last year.

WKU area media dropped off SUddenly. Not long ago we had some of the better coverage in C-USA--now we are in the dregs.

(04-24-2023 04:32 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  WKU area media dropped off SUddenly. Not long ago we had some of the better coverage in C-USA--now we are in the dregs.

Did it involve Gannett ?

(04-25-2023 08:11 AM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  

(04-24-2023 04:32 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  WKU area media dropped off SUddenly. Not long ago we had some of the better coverage in C-USA--now we are in the dregs.

Did it involve Gannett ?

BGDN had been family owned for over 100 years and they sold it to a family ran group. I forgot the name but I'm almost positive it wasn't Gannett. Today not very many people look at their news paper for sports news. Especially news on recruiting or coaching....they are going to twitter for that and getting it quicker than any news paper can put out a story.

There's still a spot for a beat writer but in that the only thing they can beat twitter at is personal stories. For the last 5 years BGDN was downsizing not only in the number of reporters but also in pay. Every time they get one that works harder than they are getting paid for. Its not long before they are gone.

While some of these fans are looking for stories on planes taking off and landing and rumors on twitter. BGDN has not had that type of reporting in many years. I dont expect them to be putting out content on things that are out and fans can get on twitter before they can update their content and if they do it going to come from ...you got it, twitter.

But these guys that complain and complain about what someone else isn't doing. Today it dont take much to be a "reporter". Start a blog, use a message board, and apply for that pass and ask the questions you want the answer to......

easier to complain on message boards or twitter. Yes NMST had coverage from their coaching search but everything reported most likely was posted on twitter first. And everyone of these Western fans complaining what is not there....
live on twitter and probably haven't paid for anything the BGDN has put out....ever. I know the quoted post was TOPSTRAIGHT but mine is not directed at him.

We had a similar situation, but sold to Gannett, and now they put out stories about what UT coach had for breakfast.

MT gets coverage when a scandal breaks, however.

Used to have one of the best around with 5 full-time beat writers.

Now one guy to handle all of the enormous load of high school sports, MT, etc.

I, too, find myself using Twitter exclusively for breaking news not already heard through the local Coconut Telegraph.

The reason I asked the question about WKU's status is because I remembered, from our Sun Belt days, WKU being the kingpin of the conference (under Dennis Felton). At that time the Hilltopper program seemed like a well-oiled machine, loading up with good recruits.

Many Aggie fans were eyeing Lutz as a possible NMSU coach, but WKU hooked him. Once he was hired there, I kind of expected to see a lot of wheels turning with regards to recruiting. Not to say it won't happen in the coming weeks but to coin your phrase, it has been quiet on the western front.

It has been quieter than I'd like, for sure.

rumor is Memphis is about to hire Rick Stansbury as top Asst Coach replacing Frank Haith...hope the new hire works out for WKU.

(04-27-2023 10:13 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  rumor is Memphis is about to hire Rick Stansbury as top Asst Coach replacing Frank Haith...hope the new hire works out for WKU.

Thought he had health issues......

We signed Brandon Newman from Purdue a couple of days ago and have had several visitors. I expect another coach to be announced next week and 2-3 additional players in the next 10-14 days. Stans did have health issues but made it clear on the way out that he was fully recovered and healthy. Any team in America would be lucky to have him as a bench coach and recruiter.

(04-28-2023 08:04 AM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  

(04-27-2023 10:13 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  rumor is Memphis is about to hire Rick Stansbury as top Asst Coach replacing Frank Haith...hope the new hire works out for WKU.

Thought he had health issues......

Not anymore lol. Funny, some WKU fans bought that and that he was staying in BG lol.

Great assistant coach hire: