July 4, 2025

WKU Football Program Undergoes Major Changes

News Summary

WKU’s Athletic Director Todd Stewart announced significant changes to the Hilltopper football program, including a contract extension for Head Coach Tyson Helton and shifts in the coaching staff. With an unprecedented number of players entering the NCAA transfer portal, concerns about athlete retention were raised. Additionally, the NCAA’s new ruling on athlete compensation starting in 2025-2026 and adjustments to scholarships were discussed. Stewart acknowledged financial challenges, while also highlighting the athletic program’s recent achievements amid a shifting landscape in Conference USA.

Bowling Green, KY – WKU’s Athletic Director Todd Stewart discussed significant changes to the Hilltopper football program and the impact of recent NCAA settlements during a meeting with the Herald Sports Staff. Under Stewart’s leadership since 2012, the university’s athletic programs have achieved 54 total conference championships across 11 sports.

A key point of the meeting was the contract extension for Head Football Coach Tyson Helton, who will now remain with WKU through the 2028 season following interest from three other schools. Helton boasts a career record of 48-32, which includes six bowl game appearances during his six seasons with the team.

Changes within the coaching staff were also addressed, highlighting the departure of Defensive Coordinator Tyson Summers and Co-Offensive Coordinators Will Friend and Drew Hollingshead. In their place, WKU named Da’von Brown and Davis Merritt as co-defensive coordinators while hiring Rick Bowie as the new Offensive Coordinator. These transitions are part of the program’s strategy to enhance performance and recruitment.

Stewart raised concerns regarding the NCAA football transfer portal, noting that an unprecedented 38 players from WKU have entered this portal, including quarterback Caden Veltkamp, defensive lineman Hosea Wheeler, and kicker Lucas Carneiro. He pointed out that while the transfer portal enables athletes more freedom, it may inadvertently discourage them from learning to overcome adversity.

The NCAA has enacted a new ruling allowing institutions to begin compensating athletes directly starting in the 2025-2026 school year, a shift that Stewart fully supports. He indicated that WKU plans to opt into this revenue-sharing initiative, which aims to provide improved flexibility and compensation opportunities for student-athletes.

In a related update, the NCAA’s football scholarship cap is set to rise from 85 to 105, but WKU has confirmed it will not exceed the current number of 85 full scholarships. This decision reflects a cautious approach given the financial adjustments required post-pandemic and amid recent budget challenges.

Stewart reflected on the current landscape of Conference USA (CUSA), stating that the conference has strengthened since the previously announced departure of six institutions in 2021. Notably, newcomers such as Delaware and Missouri State have been added. However, Stewart noted significant challenges regarding the geographical spread of CUSA, which impacts travel costs and student-athletes’ class attendance.

The conversation also touched on financial matters, revealing that WKU had overspent its previous athletic budget by approximately $2.7 million, a situation attributed to factors including inflation, errors in budget calculations, and the shift to the RAMP budgeting model. A particular miscalculation of $140,000 for postseason expenses ultimately escalated to over $1 million in costs.

Stewart acknowledged the commendable performances of various teams, with specific mention of men’s basketball head coach Hank Plona, who has managed to lead the team effectively despite significant injury challenges impacting key players. The women’s basketball team has also shown notable improvements, earning praise for their progress this season.

A crucial development impacting college athletics is the House v. NCAA settlement, which allows sports events to compensate athletes directly. This settlement requires the NCAA to pay $2.576 billion over ten years, creating new equity for student-athletes based on athletic revenues. A significant portion of this financial allocation includes a $1.815 billion Broadcast NIL Fund primarily benefiting football and basketball players.

The settlement protocol entails replacing full scholarship limits with roster caps for non-revenue sports, which may lead to potential cuts in various athletic programs. All players who participated in sports since June 15, 2016, will have the opportunity to opt into the settlement class for possible compensation. The Ivy League has chosen to opt out of this settlement, emphasizing its commitment to academic priorities over athletic compensation.

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Additional Resources

Author: STAFF HERE BOWLING GREEN WRITER

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