Missouri Southern Director of Athletics Rob Mallory has announced that Sam McMahon will be the next head coach of the Missouri Southern Men’s Basketball Program.
McMahon will have an introductory press conference on Wednesday, April 6 at 3 pm in the North Endzone Facility on campus at MSSU.
“We set out in this search to find a high-character individual, a relationship-driven coach, and a person committed to building a winning culture that will get our men’s basketball program back to the level of success we are accustomed to,” Mallory said. “In a deep and highly competitive pool of candidates Sam McMahon rose to the top, and I could not be more excited to welcome him and his family back to Missouri Southern. Sam knows Missouri Southern, he has recruited at a high level in this region his entire career, and he understands what it takes to compete in the MIAA.”
McMahon will be the seventh head coach in Missouri Southern history. He will be in his second stint roaming the sidelines at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center as he served as an assistant and later associate head coach for the Lions for six seasons. McMahon has been an assistant coach at Division I Southeast Missouri for the past two seasons.
“I want to thank Dr. Van Galen and Rob Mallory for giving me the opportunity to lead one of the best Division II Men’s Basketball programs in the country,” said McMahon. “MSSU is a special place, and my family and I are proud to be a part of the community again. I’m ready to get to work with these players and together we will relentlessly pursue excellence.”
While at Southern, the Lions averaged 20 wins per season and accumulated a 124-60 record with McMahon on its coaching staff all while making three-straight NCAA Tournament appearances, the only three-year stretch in school history. MSSU earned at least a top-four finish in the MIAA regular season every year McMahon was there and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen in 2019.
McMahon started his coaching career at Central Methodist University as a member of Jeff Sherman’s staff. During his two years at CMU, the men’s basketball team went a combined 52-16 and earned a pair of NAIA National Tournament appearances (only time in school history to make the NAIA National Tournament in two straight years). The 2009-10 team recorded a 24-9 season, claimed a Heart of America Conference regular-season title, led the nation in three-point accuracy (.423), earned the school’s first-ever win over an NCAA Division I opponent and finished with a No. 13 national ranking while giving up just 60.7 points per game.
After that, McMahon continued his coaching career at Missouri State. He spent four seasons with the Bears working alongside current Southeast Missouri head coach Brad Korn, as well as current Purdue assistant coach Paul Lusk. McMahon helped the Bears post a 75-60 overall record in that span, with teams winning 20 or more games in two seasons. The 2010-11 MSU squad posted a 28-9 record and won the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season title for the first time in school history.
A standout prep player at Jefferson City (Mo.) High School, McMahon spent a year at Bridgton (Maine) Academy and then played four years of Division I basketball at the University of Delaware (2004-08).
During his time at Delaware, McMahon earned four letters, was team captain his senior season (2007-08) and earned Colonial Athletic Association All-Academic second team honors twice. He earned a spot on the CAA Commissioner’s Honor Roll and averaged 10.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists his junior season. He ranked second in the CAA in free-throw percentage (.840) his senior campaign and was third in three-point shooting (.444). He scored 20 or more points five times during his collegiate career, reeled off a streak of 16 straight double-figure scoring games, and earned his team’s Most-Improved Award his junior season.
On his way to earning a degree in sports management from Delaware in 2008, McMahon was also on the Dean’s List. After his tenure with the Blue Hens, he spent three months interning at Wilmington University in New Castle, Delaware, where he was the team’s video coordinator. McMahon boasted a perfect 4.0 GPA while earning his Master’s in Education at Central Methodist (2010).
McMahon and the former Holly Wade were married on September 8, 2012. The couple have three children, Maverick, Eva and Nova.
What They’re Saying About Sam McMahon –
“When we came to SEMO we not only needed great coaches but great men and great families. Sam checks all the boxes as it relates to coaching, connecting and leading young men. Sam was instrumental in helping us lay the foundation of what SEMO basketball is now and into the future. We are so excited for Holly, Maverick, Eva and Nova to return “home” and live out a dream that they are ready for. We look forward to seeing the success they will have and we will be cheering for the Lions!”
- Brad Korn, Head Coach, Southeast Missouri State University
“Sam McMahon is a terrific hire for Missouri Southern. He understands the institution as well as the league. He’s a perfect fit. He has great experience on various levels of college basketball and will do a tremendous job leading the program.”
- Paul Lusk, Assistant Coach, Purdue University
