Candidates to Replace Rick Ray as Mississippi State Head Coach

Ray Harper

Feb 26, 2015; Bowling Green, KY, USA; Western Kentucky Hilltoppers head coach Ray Harper shouts during the game against Florida Atlantic Owls at E.A. Diddle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Lindsey-USA TODAY Sports

Ray Harper is the fourth-year head coach of the Western Kentucky head coach, and has championship experience in more than one division. The 53-year old head coach has won four national championships during his coaching career, and has a career record of 409-107 (.803).

He won the 1999 and 2001 NCAA Division II National Championships with Kentucky Wesleyan University, and was the NCAA Division II runner-up four times. After his tenure at Kentucky Wesleyan, he moved on to NAIA Oklahoma City University where he won the NAIA Division I Championship in 2007 and 2008. He won those two National Championships after finishing as the NAIA Runner-up in 2006.

His first two years at Western Kentucky saw the Hilltoppers reach the NCAA Round of 64 after winning the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.