After guiding the Murray State men’s basketball program to 20 wins and securing a spot in the postseason National Invitation Tournament, head coach Ryan Miller has received a contract extension that will see him lead the Racers through 2031.
Named the 18th head coach in program history in March 2025, Miller also led the team to a program-best 12 Missouri Valley Conference victories to lock up a top-4 finish in Valley play in 2025-26. His achievements as a first-time head coach saw him named a Joe B. Hall Award finalist.
“The first-year success we experienced this season under head coach Ryan Miller helped elevate the brand of our University and add to the tradition of excellence set by our basketball program,” Murray State University President Dr. Ron Patterson said. “We look forward to the continued success of our program under the guidance of Coach Miller and his staff.”
Miller is regarded as one of the top recruiters in the nation, a trait he put on display with his first Racer roster that ranked as the top transfer portal class in the MVC last season. His talent evaluation saw the team finished the season with three All-Conference selections in Fred King (First Team), Javon Jackson (Second Team) and Roman Domon (Third Team).
“Coach Miller did a tremendous job implementing his vision for Murray State Basketball, and we were thrilled with the progress the team made in his first season,” Director of Athletics Nico Yantko said. “Securing 20 wins and a postseason berth has set us on the right trajectory as we build for the future within our Second Saturday Strategy. This extension shows our commitment to returning to our standard of excellence, and we are extremely excited to begin the 2026-27 season and work alongside Ryan and his staff as we look to compete for and win championships.”
In addition to the All-Conference nods, King was named the league’s Newcomer of the Year and earned All-District NABC honors, while Domon was named the MVC’s Freshman of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year.
“We were pleased with the progress that we made in year one and feel like we have laid a great foundation for what is to come,” Miller said. “I would like to thank Dr. Ron Patterson, Director of Athletics Nico Yantko, the Board of Regents, and everyone who continues to believe and invest in our program. This extension is a testament to the shared vision we have collectively as we push to compete for and win championships, and I am excited to lead this storied program into the future.”
The Racers were one of the top scoring teams in the nation, ranking 32nd nationally in scoring offense (83.1 ppg) and 86th nationally in effective field goal percentage (.538). The offensive success marked the team’s best scoring offense numbers since the 2021-22 season.
Off the court, the Racers notched a 3.17 team GPA, this highest in program history.
