Steve Prohm Returns To Murray State As Program Enters Missouri Valley Conference

New league. Old coach.

As Murray State prepares to join the Missouri Valley Conference next season, the program is bringing back former coach Steve Prohm, who will officially be introduced Monday at a press conference.

Prohm, 47, went 104-29 in four seasons at Murray State in the early 2010s before leaving for Iowa State. He went 97-95 in six seasons at the Big 12 program with three NCAA Tournament appearances, but was fired after posting a 2-22 record in 2020-21.

“I have known Coach Prohm since he arrived at Murray State University as an assistant coach,” said Murray State President Dr. Bob Jackson in a statement. “Not only is he a successful coach, but a person of the highest integrity. I am extremely happy for MSU, Coach Prohm and his family, and our student-athletes. I look forward to this new era of Racer Basketball.”

Said Prohm: “I’m extremely excited and grateful for the opportunity to return to Racer Nation. I’m thankful for the belief and continued investments ushered by President Bob Jackson, Director of Athletics Kevin Saal and the great people who support our program. During my time away, this program has maintained an elite standard of excellence, consistently producing championship-level teams. Though there have been many great moments and memories all of us have shared, now is the time to shift our focus forward, as we begin a new chapter of Murray State Basketball entering the Missouri Valley Conference. I’m excited to take this journey with you!”

Prohm takes the Racers into the Missouri Valley Conference and immediately becomes one of the most experienced coaches in the league when Murray State officially becomes a member on July 1. His 133 games coached at Murray State is fifth in the MVC and his 325 career games is sixth.

Prohm’s run of 104-29 in four seasons included the Racers winning two Ohio Valley Conference regular season titles in 2012 and 2015 and a game in the 2012 NCAA Tournament. His 2011-12 team established the Racers as the final undefeated team in the nation at 23-0 with a top-10 national ranking. His 2014-15 team went undefeated in the OVC play, won a conference record 25 consecutive games, and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NIT. Prohm was voted twice OVC Coach of the Year and was named Basketball Times National Coach of the Year in 2012. NBA draft selections, Isaiah Canaan and Cameron Payne combined to win three OVC Player of the Year awards between 2012-15 and each earned All-America honors. During his 10 seasons at Murray State, Prohm coached nine players who combined to win 17 All-OVC awards.

Matt McMahon, a former Prohm assistant who was the most recent head coach at Murray State, was named the LSU head coach earlier this week.