HOUGHTON — Josh Buettner is taking over as head coach of the Michigan Tech men’s basketball team, the university said Friday.

Tech made the announcement Friday, a day after outgoing head coach Kevin Luke retired following 34 seasons.

“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, passon, integrity, tradition, teamwork, and a commitment to academic and athletic success. I am very excited to work with Josh and confident that he will continue the tradition of excellence.”

Buettner said he’s looking forward to the opportunity.

“I am honored to be named the head Coach of the Michigan Tech men’s basketball program,” Buettner said. “I would like to thank Dr. Sanregret for giving me the opportunity to lead this team that I care so deeply about. I’m excited to work to continue the standards and success that Coach Luke has built. 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 was named an associate head coach after the previous 13 seasons as an assistant. He has been the program’s main recruiter, which has turned into five All-Americans and seven All-GLIAC First Team players.

Buettner played played for Luke in 2001-05 as a power forward/center. He was a two-time All-American and was named GLIAC Player of the Year his junior and senior seasons. He left the team ranking third in scoring in school history with 2,061 points. He went on to play three seasons in pro leagues in Denmark, Switzerland and Iceland and was named the Danish Elite League Player of the Year.

“I’m very excited for Coach Buettner. He will be an excellent head coach,” Luke said. “I’m looking forward to him continuing and building on the program’s successes.”