Conference Sun Belt Conference Defensive coordinator Lance Guidry | 2012 record 7–6 (4–4 Sun Belt) | |
 | ||
Head coach Willie Taggart (regular season)
Lance Guidry (bowl game) Home stadium Houchens Industries – L. T. Smith Stadium
(Capacity: 22,113) | ||
The 2012 WKU Hilltoppers football team represented Western Kentucky University in the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by third year head coach Willie Taggart and played their home games at Houchens Industries – L. T. Smith Stadium. They were a member of the Sun Belt Conference. They finished the season 7–6, 4–4 in Sun Belt play to finish in fifth place. They were invited to the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, their first bowl appearance since joining FBS in 2007, where they were defeated by Central Michigan.
After a three-year record of 16–20, head coach Willie Taggart resigned in December to become the head coach at South Florida. Defensive coordinator Lance Guidry coached the Hilltoppers in Little Caesars Pizza Bowl. Bobby Petrino was hired as the school's new head coach on December 10, 2012.