LSU Names Matt McMahon To Replace Will Wade

The Will Wade Era is over at LSU, and the Matt McMahon Era has begun.

Nine days after firing Wade in the wake of receiving a Notice of Allegations from the NCAA, LSU on Monday named McMahon, the former Murray State coach, to replace him. If the NCAA hands down penalties going forward, McMahon and his players will have to deal with the consequences.

McMahon, 43, is a Naismith National Coach of the Year Semifinalist who led Murray State to the first 18-0 season in Ohio Valley Conference history in 2021-22. Murray State was upset by Saint Peter’s in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday.

He went 154-67 record in seven seasons as the Racers’ head coach – including a 31-3 (.900) mark this season. The Oak Ridge, Tenn., native also led his program to four Ohio Valley Conference regular season titles, three conference tournament championships, three NCAA Tournament appearances, two NCAA Tournament wins, and a 121-36 (.711) record since 2017-18.

“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 to new heights,” LSU AD Scott Woodward said. “Matt is exactly what we were looking for. His vision for our program and his values as a leader align perfectly with ours as an institution, and he has a proven track record of identifying talent, developing student-athletes, and building championship basketball programs. We are excited to welcome, Matt, Mary, and their three children to Baton Rouge, and we are ready to work together to write the next championship chapter for LSU Basketball.”

McMahon is the latest new coach in the SEC after Mike White left Florida for Georgia, Florida hired San Francisco’s Todd Golden to replace White, and Mississippi State brought aboard New Mexico State’s Chris Jans. McMahon, Golden and Jans all got a bump from leading their teams to the NCAA Tournament.

Missouri and South Carolina also have openings.

“I want to thank President Tate, Scott Woodward, and Stephanie Rempe for the incredible opportunity to be the next head basketball coach at LSU,” McMahon said. “My family and I are extremely excited to join the Baton Rouge community and lead the LSU Basketball program forward. I look forward to building relationships with our current players and recruiting elite student-athletes to LSU, and I’m excited to join the best athletic department – and the most iconic brand – in all of college sports. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me, and I cannot wait to get to work.”

McMahon has developed a reputation as an elite recruiter, particularly in the Southeast, where he has recruited and developed three OVC Players of the Year in the past five seasons.

That will come in handy as three LSU recruits decommitted after Wade’s firing.

A four-year letterman at Appalachian State in 2000, McMahon finished his playing career with a Southern Conference championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance in his senior season. In 117 games from 1996-2000, he hit 135 three-pointers, posting a career-high 45.5 percent mark from 3 in 1998-99.

McMahon and his wife, Mary – a former basketball standout for Furman – have three children: Maris, Mabry, and Mason.