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Ray Harper and Western Kentucky part ways

CUSA-W Kentucky-UAB Basketball

Western Kentucky head coach Ray Harper looks on during an NCAA college basketball game against UAB at the Conference USA tournament Thursday, March 10, 2016, in Birmingham, Ala. Western Kentucky won 88-77. (Austin Anthony/Daily News via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

AP

Western Kentucky announced on Thursday that head coach Ray Harper has resigned effective immediately.

Harper has been the head coach of the Hilltoppers since midway through the 2011-12 season. He took over in January when Ken McDonald was fired early on in league play.

Harper took that team to the NCAA tournament, resulting in the interim tag being removed. He returned to the NCAA tournament last season and had won 20 games for three straight seasons prior to this year.

The Hilltoppers went 18-16 this season and 8-10 in the Sun Belt Conference.

Western Kentucky is a really good job at the mid-major level. Don’t be surprised to see a number of coaches go after the job.