Buettner becomes the 12th head coach in program history, effective immediately.

“Coach Buettner has the playing, coaching, and recruiting experience to lead our men’s basketball program,” Michigan Tech Athletic Director Suzanne Sanregret said. “Over the past 13 years he has demonstrated the core values that we look for in coaches at Michigan Tech with loyalty, passion, integrity, tradition, teamwork, and a commitment to academic and athletic success.

“I’m excited to work to continue the standards and success that Coach Luke has built,” Buettner said. “We have a terrific group of young men, and we will work to have a team that will make the university, alumni, and community proud.”

Buettner has been the chief recruiter for the Huskies, responsible for bringing in top talent, which has included five All-Americans and seven All-GLIAC first team selections.

KEVIN LUKE

A Shawano, Wis., native, Buettner began as a star student-athlete at Michigan Tech, playing for the Huskies from 2001-05 as a power forward/center. He is a two-time All-American and earned GLIAC Player of the Year honors his junior and senior seasons. Buettner finished his collegiate career third on Tech’s all-time scoring chart with 2,061 points.

Following graduation, Buettner played professionally in Europe for three years in leagues in Denmark, Switzerland, and Iceland, and was named the Danish Elite League Player of the Year in his second pro campaign.

In addition to his coaching duties at Tech, Buettner teaches classes in the Kinesiology and Integrated Physiology Department.

Over his distinguished head coaching career, Luke amassed 471 career victories, making him the winningest coach amongst Tech’s NCAA Division II sports.

“It’s hard to believe 34 years have gone by since I started at Tech,” Luke said.

Luke was awarded Basketball Times National Coach of the Year in 2002-03 after leading his squad to a 29-3 record.