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Western Kentucky Hires Tyson Helton As Head Football Coach

WKU via wkyufm.org

Western Kentucky has hired Tennessee offensive coordinator Tyson Helton as its new football coach.

Helton is returning to the program where he led one of the nation's top offenses in 2014 and '15.

Helton, 41, met with Hilltopper players on Tuesday morning and will be introduced at an afternoon news conference. WKU enjoyed a highly successful stretch with Helton running the offense under Jeff Brohm, now at Purdue.

The 'Toppers went 12-2 and won the Conference USA championship in 2015 with record-breaking quarterback Brandon Doughty and finished No. 24 in the Top 25. He spent last season with the Volunteers and has worked under his brother, Clay Helton, at USC.

WKU athletic director Todd Stewart said in a release that Helton's offensive background "fit our mission to find the next great leader" of the program. Helton replaces Mike Sanford, who was fired on Sunday after going 9-19 over two years, including 3-9 this season.

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