Just three days after LSU’s season came to an end in the NCAA Tournament, the program has a new basketball coach.
According to multiple reports, the school has agreed to terms to make Murray State’s Matt McMahon the next head coach for the men’s basketball team. McMahon has been the head coach for the Racers since 2015 and has a 154-67 record.
Over the last 24 hours, the search quickly centered around McMahon. Several reports indicated that he was among the finalists, alongside North Texas’ Grant McCasland. McMahon’s 2021-22 team finished with a 31-3 record, his best with the program. It bowed out of the NCAA Tournament in the second round against No. 15-seeded Saint Peter’s after taking down San Francisco in the opening round.
Sources: Murray State's Matt McMahon is finalizing a deal to become the next head coach at LSU. Official announcement expected soon.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 21, 2022
This is a hire that makes a ton of sense for the Tigers. McMahon is young at just 43, and he’s an innovative offensive mind who has proven he can develop NBA talent in the mid-majors, namely Memphis Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant. His ceiling at a program with LSU’s resources is certainly significantly higher.
In his seven seasons with Murray State, he took the team to three NCAA Tournaments — it likely would have been four if the 2020 tournament hadn’t been canceled — though he never made it beyond the first weekend.
LSU reportedly also looked into Virginia coach Tony Bennett (who denied interest) and San Francisco’s Todd Golden (who was ultimately hired by Florida).
McMahon was an assistant with the Racers from 2011-15 before taking over as head coach. He also served as an assistant at UNC Wilmington (2010-11), Appalachian State (1999-00 as a student assistant, 2002-10 as a full-time assistant) and Tennessee (2000-02).
[listicle id=49574]
Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.
Follow Tyler to continue the conversation on Twitter: @TylerNettuno