Tyson Helton
Hot seat: 23% chance he is fired before the season ends
Why: 3-6, 2.3 wins behind preseason pace
Coaching since 2019
Tyson Helton is 60-42 at Western Kentucky since 2019 and 60-42 in his career. Hot seat: 23% chance he is fired before the season ends.
Updated Nov 9, 2026Sources: school staff directories, TransferPortl coaching tenures, CFBD
2026 season3-6Conf 2-3
At Western Kentucky60-42Conf 42-20 · since 2019
Last 3 seasons20-16Conf 14-8
Career60-42Conf 42-20 · 8 seasons
Source: ESPN standings; Hot seat tracker through 2025, ESPN standings for 2026; Hot seat tracker
Western Kentucky won 52.3% of its games before he arrived (60.1% in conference). His career win rate is +6.5 pts against that (+7.6 pts in conference).
Bio
- Hired
- Nov 27, 2018
- Alma mater
- Houston
- Calls plays
- No
- Background
- Offense
- First-time head coach
- No
- Agent
- Jimmy Sexton
- Agency
- CAA
Head Coaching Seasons
7 seasons| Year | School | W-L | Conf | SRS | SP+ | SP+ Off | SP+ Def | AP Final | Titles and Bowl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 |  Western Kentucky | 9-4 | Conference USA | -4.2 | 1.6 | 28.8 | 28.6 | - | W 27-16 New Orleans Bowl vs Southern Miss |
| 2024 | Western Kentucky | 8-6 | Conference USA | -5.4 | -2.2 | 22.1 | 26.1 | - | L 17-27 Boca Raton Bowl vs James Madison |
| 2023 | Western Kentucky | 8-5 | Conference USA | -2.8 | -2.0 | 28.7 | 30.1 | - | W 38-35 Famous Toastery Bowl vs Old Dominion |
| 2022 | Western Kentucky | 9-5 | Conference USA | -0.1 | 1.7 | 31.3 | 30.1 | - | W 44-23 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl vs South Alabama |
| 2021 | Western Kentucky | 9-5 | Conference USA | 5.0 | 13.3 | 40.5 | 28.8 | - | W 59-38 RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl vs App State |
| 2020 | Western Kentucky | 5-7 | Conference USA | -10.2 | -3.2 | 18.9 | 22.3 | - | L 21-39 LendingTree Bowl vs Georgia State |
| 2019 | Western Kentucky | 9-4 | Conference USA | 0.0 | 1.7 | 23.6 | 21.1 | - | W 23-20 SERVPRO FIRST RESPONDER BOWL vs Western Michigan |
Western Kentucky Staff, 2026
17- Tyson HeltonHead Coach
- Joe BernardiAssistant Coach – Co-Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line
- Bodie ReederAssistant Coach – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
- Davis MerrittAssistant Coach – Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers
- Andy LaRussaAssistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator
- Jason MartinAssistant Coach – Cornerbacks
- Dayton LeBlancAssistant Coach – Defensive Tackles
- Jimmy LindseyAssistant Coach – Run Game Coordinator/Edges/Defensive Line
- Bryan ApplewhiteAssistant Coach – Running Backs
- David MetcalfAssistant Coach – Safeties
- Kevin O'BrienAssistant Coach – Tight Ends
- Jason BarnesAssistant Coach – Wide Receivers
- Darius HollandAssistant Director of Football Strength and Conditioning
- Spencer FieldAssistant Director of Football Strength and Conditioning
- Tyler MaloneAssociate Director of Football Strength and Conditioning
- Jason VeltkampDirector of Football Strength and Conditioning
- Devon LynchQuality Control – Football Strength and Conditioning
Transfer Portal at Western Kentucky
Roster average Transfer Vulnerability Score (TVS): 20
| Cycle | In | Out | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 35 | 34 | +1 |
| 2025 | 40 | 33 | +7 |
| 2024 | 15 | 9 | +6 |
| 2023 | 9 | 4 | +5 |
| 2022 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
Staff History by Season
1 stint- 2021-2026Western KentuckyHead Coach