Murray State University Athletics
Photo by: Terry Little
Prohm Officially Introduced – Begins Early Stage Of Second Era
3/28/2022 4:37:00 PM | Men's Basketball
With a public welcome and press conference, Coach Steve Prohm outlines his plan for moving Racer men’s basketball forward into the Missouri Valley Conference in 2022-23
After being confirmed as the 17th head coach of Murray State men's basketball program last Friday, Coach Steve Prohm and his family were welcomed back to Murray State University with a public celebration at the Gene W. Ray Center for Murray State Basketball at the CFSB Center, in Murray, Kentucky.
Having already guided the Racers to great heights, first as an assistant to Billy Kennedy (2005-10), and as head coach (2011-15), Prohm stated his biggest motivation in being interested in coming back to Murray State was the university's entry into the Missouri Valley Conference on July 1.
"It's a different job than from when I left," Prohm said. "The biggest thing is The Valley. It's a great league. I've spent a lot of time in the Midwest and have a great deal of admiration and respect for the Missouri Valley Conference. It's one of the top-10 leagues in the country and one that has sent multiple teams to the NCAA Tournament. This is a great challenge and a great opportunity for our program that has so much history and tradition. So I am back because it's a brand new chapter for me and this university."
Prohm's first order of business is the current roster, recruits that have signed with the Racers from last November and hiring his staff. Prohm announced Marcus Brown will be staying with the Racer program on his staff. Brown, who was Coach Matt McMahon's Special Assistant to the Head Coach, is a Murray State Hall of Famer and enjoyed an All-America career from 1992-96 and is the program's third career scorer.
"I talked to all of them (signees & current players), their parents, AAU coaches and high school coaches," Prohm said. "Everything is never perfect in a transition, but I feel where we are at with our signees. Once I get done what I need to here on campus, I'll be excited to go and see those guys. As for my staff, number one is alignment/chemistry. If they can bring that to the table, then everything else will work out. I would like to hire one person that has familiarity with me."
Seven seasons since he last coached the Racers, Prohm left Murray State in June 2015 to serve as head coach at Iowa State University. He led the Cyclones from 2015-21 and won the Big-12 Conference Tournament twice in 2017 and 2019, taking ISU to three NCAA Tournament appearances with three wins. Prohm coached six players who won seven Big-12 All-Conference honors including Georges Niang and Monte' Morris.
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.
Prohm hired Matt McMahon as an assistant coach in 2011 before handing him the reins in 2015, after Prohm took over the Iowa State program. Earlier this week, McMahon was named Head Coach of the LSU Tigers, after seven successful seasons in Murray.
Having already guided the Racers to great heights, first as an assistant to Billy Kennedy (2005-10), and as head coach (2011-15), Prohm stated his biggest motivation in being interested in coming back to Murray State was the university's entry into the Missouri Valley Conference on July 1.
"It's a different job than from when I left," Prohm said. "The biggest thing is The Valley. It's a great league. I've spent a lot of time in the Midwest and have a great deal of admiration and respect for the Missouri Valley Conference. It's one of the top-10 leagues in the country and one that has sent multiple teams to the NCAA Tournament. This is a great challenge and a great opportunity for our program that has so much history and tradition. So I am back because it's a brand new chapter for me and this university."
Prohm's first order of business is the current roster, recruits that have signed with the Racers from last November and hiring his staff. Prohm announced Marcus Brown will be staying with the Racer program on his staff. Brown, who was Coach Matt McMahon's Special Assistant to the Head Coach, is a Murray State Hall of Famer and enjoyed an All-America career from 1992-96 and is the program's third career scorer.
"I talked to all of them (signees & current players), their parents, AAU coaches and high school coaches," Prohm said. "Everything is never perfect in a transition, but I feel where we are at with our signees. Once I get done what I need to here on campus, I'll be excited to go and see those guys. As for my staff, number one is alignment/chemistry. If they can bring that to the table, then everything else will work out. I would like to hire one person that has familiarity with me."
Seven seasons since he last coached the Racers, Prohm left Murray State in June 2015 to serve as head coach at Iowa State University. He led the Cyclones from 2015-21 and won the Big-12 Conference Tournament twice in 2017 and 2019, taking ISU to three NCAA Tournament appearances with three wins. Prohm coached six players who won seven Big-12 All-Conference honors including Georges Niang and Monte' Morris.
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.
Prohm hired Matt McMahon as an assistant coach in 2011 before handing him the reins in 2015, after Prohm took over the Iowa State program. Earlier this week, McMahon was named Head Coach of the LSU Tigers, after seven successful seasons in Murray.
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