Ex-Hilltopper assistant McDonald to take over at Western Kentucky

[KFDM COOP]

Ex-Hilltopper assistant McDonald to take over at Western Kentucky

Texas assistant Ken McDonald will be named the head coach at Western Kentucky at a news conference Sunday.

The announcement will be at 3 p.m. ET in Bowling Green, Ky. to introduce McDonald, who has worked under Rick Barnes with the Longhorns since 2004.

McDonald had been an assistant at Western Kentucky under Dennis Felton from 1998-2003. McDonald was with Felton when the Hilltoppers went to three straight NCAA tournaments and were 100-54 during McDonald's five seasons with the program.

McDonald had been an assistant under Barnes at Clemson for four years prior to going to Western Kentucky in 1998.

McDonald replaces Darrin Horn, who left to take the head coaching job at South Carolina last week. Horn led the Hilltoppers to the Sweet 16, beating Drake 101-99 in the tournament's most thrilling game on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Ty Rogers in overtime.

Western Kentucky then went on to beat San Diego in the second round before losing to UCLA in the Sweet 16.

The Hilltoppers, who finished 29-7 overall and 16-2 in the Sun Belt Conference, lose their top three players in seniors Courtney Lee, Tyrone Brazelton and Rogers.

Western Kentucky also interviewed Florida assistant coach Larry Shyatt and Minnesota assistant coach Vince Taylor for the position over the weekend.

[DP#1FAN]

They got a good one.