Murray State announces Prohm era is over
MBB: Prohm went 149-81 in his seven years leading the Racer program
Murray State Director of Athletics Nico Yantko announced in a statement Saturday that he and Steve Prohm “have agreed that Coach Prohm will no longer lead the men's basketball program.” This move comes one day after the Racers fell to Bradley, 70-62, in the quarterfinals of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament on Friday in St. Louis.
“We are grateful for everything that Coach Prohm has done for the Murray State men's basketball team, as both an assistant coach and head coach, and I know all of Racer Nation joins me in thanking Coach Prohm and his wife, Katie, and their four children, along with his staff, for everything they have done for the city of Murray, Murray State University, and our department," Yantko said in a statement. "He has left an incredible legacy, both on and off the court, and has positively impacted the lives of so many student-athletes, coaches, and staff. I am excited for the future of our men's basketball team as we begin a national search for the next leader of our historic program."
In Prohm’s second stint leading the Murray State program, the Racers went a combined 45-52 overall and 29-31 in conference play. Prohm’s arrival prior to the 2022-23 season helped lead the transition into the Missouri Valley Conference, but the Racers were unable to contend for a conference title, as everyone around the program, and none more than Prohm himself, had hoped.
“"It has been a tremendous honor to lead this storied program, including its transition into a new era in the Missouri Valley Conference," Prohm said in a statement. "I am forever grateful for the support that the entire Murray and Murray State community provided to everyone in our program. Murray State has the best fans in the nation, and I am extremely appreciative to our current and former players and staff for their profound impact on my family and me."
Prohm’s first stint at Murray State, from 2011-15, was nothing short of magical. After spending five years with the Racers as an assistant coach under Billy Kennedy, which included the 2010 NCAA Tournament win over Vanderbilt, Prohm was selected to take over the program after Kennedy took the head coaching job at Texas A&M in the spring of 2011.
The 2011-12 season will be one that is remembered by Racers fans forever. Murray State won Ohio Valley Conference regular season and tournament championships, starting the year 23-0, soaring into the Top 10 of both the Associated Press and Coaches polls, and finishing the season 31-2.
In 2014, behind a lanky freshman named Cameron Payne, the Racers won a CIT championship which helped catapult them into the next season. After a 2-4 start the following year, Murray State won 25 straight games before falling to Belmont in the final seconds of the 2015 Ohio Valley Conference championship game. The Racers made the quarterfinals of the NIT that season, before losing on another buzzer beater to Old Dominion to end their season at 29-6. Those 29 wins are tied for the 4th-most wins in a single-season in Murray State history.
Prohm led the Racers to two OVC regular season titles, one OVC tournament championship, a CIT crown, and twice had Murray State ranked in the Top 25. In his seven seasons at Murray State, Prohm won 149 games, which is the third-most in program history behind only Cal Luther (241 wins) and Matt McMahon (154 wins).
In his statement, Yantko did not mention a timeline to name a new head coach.
Still heartbroken
I do not like Coach Prohm departing Murray State. It takes more than 2 years to build a team, let alone build a program. His first year was in a new conference, with new players, new NCAA rules.