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LSU Tigers

LSU hires Murray State's Matt McMahon to take over for Will Wade

McMahon coached Murray State for seven seasons but the Racers were recently ousted by Saint Peter's

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LSU is filling its men's basketball coaching vacancy with Murray State's Matt McMahon, the university announced Monday night.

The hiring came two days after Murray State's season ended with a loss to Saint Peter's in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

McMahon, 43, has coached Murray State for seven seasons, during which the Ohio Valley Conference school located in Murray, Kentucky, has had two first-round victories in the NCAA Tournament.

"I look forward to building relationships with our current players and recruiting elite student-athletes to LSU," McMahon said in a written announcement. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me, and I cannot wait."

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Murray State head coach Matt McMahon directs his team during the first half of a college basketball game against San Francisco in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Indianapolis. 

Murray State head coach Matt McMahon directs his team during the first half of a college basketball game against San Francisco in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Indianapolis.  (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

This season, Murray State went 31-3 and the won its fourth regular-season conference title in five years. It was a No. 7 seed in the East Region in this year's NCAA Tournament and defeated 10th-seeded San Francisco in overtime in the first round.

McMahon has a 154-67 record at Murray State, which included appearances in three of the past four NCAA Tournaments, in 2018, 2019 and 2022. There was no NCAA Tournament in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Racers also won a first-round game in 2019.

McMahon replaces Will Wade, who was fired March 12 for cause amid allegations of serious recruiting violations. LSU received a bid to the NCAA Tournament this year but lost in the first round to Iowa State, 59-54.

"It was essential for us to hire a coach with a winning standard of performance, as well as the consistency and character to elevate our men’s basketball program," LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward said. "Matt is exactly what we were looking for. ... He has a proven track record of identifying talent, developing student-athletes, and building championship basketball programs."

The circumstances surrounding Wade's firing could mean sanctions for LSU as McMahon arrives. But McMahon's decision also brings him to a Southeastern Conference program with a proud history.

LSU has appeared in each of the past three NCAA Tournaments and in a total of 24, including four appearances in the Final Four in 1953, 1981, 1986 and 2006.