Sam McMahon was announced as the seventh head basketball coach in Missouri Southern history on April 5, 2022. Heading into his second season in 2023-24 has a 17-13 overall record.
Year one as a head coach in 2022-23 saw the Lions go 17-13 overall and 12-10 in the MIAA while making it to the MIAA Tournament Quarterfinals for the first time since the 2019-20 season. Southern had four named to All-MIAA in Christian Bundy, Winston Dessesow, Avery Taggart and Vinson Sigmon Jr.
McMahon 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.
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
"Sam is a person with high character, integrity and class. His energy and passion for the game of basketball and life are incredible. He can walk in any room and command the utmost attention and respect. He is among the top young coaches in the country as well as a wonderful husband and father. Sam is relentless and a Champion on and off the court. Congratulations Sam.”
All-MIAA selections through the years
2022-23
Christian Bundy - Honorable Mention, Forward
Winston Dessesow - Honorable Mention, Guard
Avery Taggart - Honorable Mention, Guard
Vinson Sigmon Jr. - Honorable Mention, Guard
| Year |
Overall Record |
MIAA Record (Finish) |
Postseason Accomplishments |
| 2022-23 |
17-13 |
12-10 (7th) |
MIAA Tournament Appearance |
| Overall |
17-13 |
12-10 |
1x MIAA Tournament Appearance |
