LSU Basketball Coach Matt McMahon's Future in Question After 3-SEC-Win Season

Tigers' basketball program struggles continue under McMahon's leadership

Mar. 11, 2026 at 7:23pm

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LSU Basketball's season came to an end with a loss to Kentucky in the SEC Tournament, marking the third straight year the Tigers have won just 3 conference games. This has put the future of head coach Matt McMahon in question, as he has struggled to turn around the program since taking over in 2022 following the Will Wade era. With a 60-69 overall record and 17-55 SEC record in four seasons, LSU Athletics Director Verge Ausberry must decide if McMahon will remain the head coach going forward.

Why it matters

LSU Basketball has been a struggling program for the past several seasons, and the lack of on-court success under Matt McMahon has raised questions about his long-term viability as the head coach. With the Tigers failing to make significant progress, the administration must evaluate whether McMahon is the right person to lead the program back to prominence in the highly competitive SEC.

The details

In his four seasons as LSU's head coach, Matt McMahon has compiled a 60-69 overall record and a dismal 17-55 mark in SEC play. After going 17-16 overall and 9-9 in the SEC in his second season, the Tigers have regressed, winning just 3 conference games in each of the last two campaigns. Despite an offseason boost in NIL investment and the addition of key transfer players, LSU still struggled to a 15-16 record and 3-15 SEC finish in 2022-23. With the program stuck in the bottom tier of the SEC, the administration must weigh whether McMahon is the right long-term solution or if a coaching change is necessary to get LSU Basketball back on track.

  • LSU's season ended with a loss to Kentucky in the 2026 SEC Tournament on March 11, 2026.
  • Matt McMahon was hired as LSU's head coach in 2022 following the end of the Will Wade era.

The players

Matt McMahon

The current head coach of the LSU Basketball program, hired in 2022 after previously leading Murray State to an 18-0 conference record and NCAA Tournament appearance.

Verge Ausberry

The Athletics Director at Louisiana State University, who will be responsible for evaluating the future of the basketball program and head coach Matt McMahon.

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What’s next

LSU Athletics Director Verge Ausberry will need to decide in the coming weeks and months whether to retain Matt McMahon as the head basketball coach or make a change in leadership for the program.

The takeaway

After four seasons of limited progress and continued struggles in SEC play, LSU Basketball's administration faces a critical decision on the future of head coach Matt McMahon. With the program stuck near the bottom of the conference standings, the Tigers must determine if McMahon is the right person to turn things around or if a coaching change is necessary to get the program back on track.