COLUMBIA, KY. (06/16/2026) Lindsey Wilson University women's basketball coach John B. Wethington, the longest-serving college basketball coach in Kentucky and the winningest active NAIA women's basketball coach, is stepping down to become assistant to the president for athletics development.
Wethington finishes his 37-season collegiate coaching career, all of which was spent at Lindsey Wilson over five decades, with a program-best 737 wins and 428 losses. His 2025-26 Lindsey Wilson team finished with a 23-9 record and advanced to the NAIA National Tournament Round of 16, and Wethington was named the 2025-26 Mid-South Coach of the Year.
"This is the right time for the program and it's the right time for me to make this move," said Wethington, a 1984 Lindsey Wilson alumnus who was the school's fourth women's basketball coach. "I'm excited about this new opportunity to serve my alma mater, and I look forward to finding friends and funds that will expand opportunities for student-athletes and support the Lindsey Wilson mission."
Lindsey Wilson Athletic Director Willis Poolersaid that a successor for Wethington will be named shortly.
"For nearly four decades, John has led our women's basketball program with class and integrity," said Pooler. "He's been a mentor to hundreds of Lindsey Wilson students and he's been a great ambassador of the school. John loves Lindsey Wilson and is mission-driven, and we're excited about how he will help the university in his new role."
37 Years of Success
Over a 37-year head coaching career that began with the 1989-90 season, Wethington led the Blue Raiders to three Mid-South Conference regular-season championships, five Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular-season titles and 20 appearances in the NAIA National Tournament. Wethington's 2025-26 team finished with a 23-9 record and advanced to the NAIA National Tournament Round of 16.
His most successful team was the 2016-17 season, when Lindsey Wilson made its second consecutive trip to the NAIA National Tournament Quarterfinals behind a program-best record of 32-3. That team opened the season with a 27-game win streak, was ranked as high as No. 2 in the NAIA national coaches' poll and claimed a share of the Mid-South Conference regular-season title.
Wethington coached seven NAIA All-Americans, two Women's Basketball Coaches Association-NAIA All-Americans, five Mid-South Conference Players of the Year, five Mid-South Conference Freshman of the Year and 28 Mid-South All-Conference selections. He was named Mid-South Conference Coach of the Year four times (2007, '08, '20 and '26), and he was named KIAC Coach of the Year three times (1991, '97 and '99). Nine of his players have been inducted into the Lindsey Wilson Athletic Hall of Fame.
Stars in the classroom
But Wethington said his greatest satisfaction as a coach came on every commencement weekend, when he was on hand to watch his players graduate from Lindsey Wilson. His teams' cumulative grade point average consistently was among the best among Lindsey Wilson's intercollegiate sports programs.
"When I recruited a player, I always told them that my number one priority for them was to graduate and be prepared to get a job," said Wethington. "I also told them that college will be one of the best times of their lives. It's where they will build lifelong friendships and make some great memories.
"It was an honor to be part of so many players' lives over these last 37 seasons. Many of my players have become good friends. I've attended their weddings, I've watched their children grow up, and some of their daughters have become part of the program."
University support
Wethington said that another big reason for his success on the court was because of the support he and his program received from the Lindsey Wilson community, including members of the school's administration and the fans who attend Blue Raider home games at Biggers Sports Center.
"We have some of the best fans around," said Wethington. "It's always meant a lot to our players when they look up in the stands and see so many alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends cheering for them, whether that was at home or on the road."
Wethington was named head coach by John B. Begley, who was Lindsey Wilson's sixth president. His Lindsey Wilson coaching career spanned two more presidents -- Walter S. Reuling, who served as Lindsey Wilson's seventh president from 1997-98, and William T. Luckey Jr., who has been Lindsey Wilson's eighth president since 1998.
"Not many coaches can say they have enjoyed the kind of support we did from our school's administration over the years," said Wethington. "I really appreciate Dr. Begley taking a chance on a young guy by naming me head coach. I also appreciate everything President Luckey and Willis Pooler have done to make sure that our players have a great experience, both on the court and in the classroom."
Before being named Lindsey Wilson women's basketball head coach, Wethington spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the women's program.
A Western Kentucky University graduate, Wethington was head manager of the WKU men's basketball program, which was coached by former college and NBA star Clem Haskins. Wethington was also a student assistant coach at Lindsey Wilson during the 1982-83 and 1983-84 seasons.
A Casey County, Kentucky, native, Wethington and his wife, Shelia, who is a Lindsey Wilson alumna, have two children, Mason and Brenna, both of whom are Lindsey Wilson graduates.
"Lindsey Wilson is an important part of my life," said Wethington. "I met my wife at Lindsey Wilson, and we got to see both of our children graduate from Lindsey Wilson. I'll always be a Blue Raider for life."
