LSU Faces Costly Decision on Basketball Coach McMahon

Firing Matt McMahon would come with an $8.48 million buyout, complicating the school's options.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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LSU men's basketball has struggled mightily under head coach Matt McMahon, who is in his second season. After a blowout loss to Arkansas, LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry acknowledged the program's situation is becoming "untenable" and that a decision on McMahon's future will need to be made, with the coach due $8.48 million if fired. Ausberry previously set an NCAA Tournament appearance as the benchmark for McMahon this season, but LSU is in danger of missing the tournament for a fifth straight year.

Why it matters

LSU is one of the premier basketball programs in the SEC, but the team's struggles under McMahon have led to growing calls for his dismissal. However, the massive buyout complicates the school's options, as the athletic department would need to secure significant donor funding to make a coaching change. This decision will have major implications for the future direction of the program.

The details

McMahon is in the second year of a contract that runs through 2029. If fired, he would be owed 80% of his remaining contract, which amounts to $8.48 million. Ausberry previously laid out an NCAA Tournament appearance as the benchmark for McMahon this season, but with the team struggling, the athletic director has acknowledged the situation is becoming unsustainable. LSU has missed the NCAA Tournament in each of the last four seasons, its longest drought since 2010-2014.

  • On February 7, 2023, Ausberry said McMahon's job was not in immediate danger and that he would not make an "emotional decision".
  • On February 11, 2023, LSU suffered a blowout 91-62 loss to Arkansas, further damaging the team's NCAA Tournament hopes.

The players

Matt McMahon

The head coach of the LSU men's basketball team, who is in his second season and facing growing pressure after the team's struggles.

Verge Ausberry

The athletic director at LSU, who has acknowledged the program's situation under McMahon is becoming "untenable" and that a decision on the coach's future will need to be made.

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What they’re saying

“We've already had some discussions about what the expectations are. One thing we want to do is make sure we're in the NCAA Tournament. We made that very clear to Matt at the beginning of the year – that's where we need to be.”

— Verge Ausberry, LSU Athletic Director (on3.com)

“It's very important to us and I think one thing I've learned as an administrator is to not rush decisions. Don't make emotional decisions. You take your time to evaluate it and he lost his two best players to injuries and I think his record could be totally different. The thing I watch is they haven't quit, they had chances against Georgia, Vanderbilt, and Arkansas. They're tough. Those are things your watching and then you have a decision to make.”

— Verge Ausberry, LSU Athletic Director (on3.com)

What’s next

If LSU misses the NCAA Tournament again this season, it will mark the program's first five-year absence from the tournament since 2010-2014. Ausberry will then need to decide whether to move on from McMahon, despite the massive $8.48 million buyout.

The takeaway

LSU faces a difficult decision on the future of its basketball program, as the team's struggles under Matt McMahon have become untenable, but the massive buyout required to fire him complicates the school's options. This decision will have major implications for the direction of the program and the athletic department's willingness to invest in turning it around.