University of Texas assistant coach Ken McDonald was officially named the 13th coach in Hilltopper history at a press
conference Sunday afternoon in E.A. Diddle Arena. “It’s an incredibly emotional time, because I’m really leaving one family, but I’m coming back to a family I already had,” McDonald said
The 38 year-old McDonald was previously an assistant at WKU under Dennis Felton from 1998-2003, a period which saw the Hilltoppers post a 100-54 mark, and advance to three straight NCAA Tournaments (2001-03). McDonald left WKU with Felton in 2003 and was a member of Felton's staff at the University of Georgia for one season in 2004 before leaving to accept the top assistant's position at Texas where he remained until accepting the WKU head coaching position.
“I had what I perceive to be an incredible job at Texas, so it was going to take a truly special situation for me to consider leaving,” McDonald stated. “I’ve been on different benches the last 14 years waiting for an opportunity like this. The two main reasons I’m here today are the leadership of [WKU President Dr.] Gary [Ransdell] and Wood and trust that they want to continue to grow the program, and I truly believe this is a job with no ceiling.”
McDonald, a native of Providence, R.I., played two years at Providence College (1991-92) under his future boss Rick Barnes. After graduation he spent one year playing and coaching in Ireland before returning to the U.S. where he soon joined the staff at Clemson University. McDonald remained on Rick Barnes' staff at Clemson until 1998 when fellow Clemson assistant Dennis Felton was named the head coach at WKU and McDonald accepted a position on Felton's staff on the Hill.
Known as an excellent recruiter with a keen eye for talent, McDonald was a big part of Felton's rebuilding of the WKU program from 1998-2003. His impressive recruiting prowess continued at Texas where the last three Longhorn classes were each ranked in the Top 25 nationally, with the 2006 class being ranked fifth.
WKU President Gary Ransdell stated, “I am impressed with Ken’s resolve, and after hours of conversation I agree with his fundamental points including that there is no ceiling for this program. He’s been an assistant for two of the most respected men in the business in Dennis and Rick, I have known them both for years and respect what they tell me. What they said is that he’s the best they’ve ever seen.”
Rick Barnes proclaimed, “The thing that I’m most excited about for Ken is that after he spent the five years as an assistant at Western Kentucky, he has always referred to the head coaching position at WKU as a dream job. I know what a great passion he has for Western Kentucky. We’re excited to see him earn this opportunity, and we all wish him the best.”
McDonald takes over a Hilltopper team that finished 29-7 and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2008.