Report: Matt McMahon turned down SEC job to accept LSU coaching position

Additional details came out on Monday regarding former Murray State head coach Matt McMahon’s decision to accept the LSU coaching job over South Carolina. McMahon will become the next head coach for the Tigers after the Racers’ tournament run ended at the hands of the surprising 15-seed Saint Peter’s Peacocks. The report indicates that McMahon preferred LSU so much over South Carolina that the threat of NCAA punishments for the Tigers did not dissuade him.

Matt McMahon chooses LSU over South Carolina

“McMahon was able to negotiate a seven-year deal with LSU,” detailed CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander. “South Carolina tried to push, but it speaks to the allure of each job that, despite NCAA punishments sure to come, McMahon still preferred to head to Baton Rouge.”

The punishments that Norlander is referring to are the expected penalties imposed by the NCAA for violations committed by former head coach Will Wade and LSU. Although the school acted quickly once the investigation turned up evidence and they received a formal statement of allegations, the severity of any punishments handed down to them is expected to be notable.

As for South Carolina, it appears that both SEC schools were in the running to acquire the leadership of McMahon. Despite their pitch and the lingering shadow of NCAA sanctions however, it appears that LSU was the premier destination out of the two according to Norlander.

LSU now enters a new era of sports in both football and basketball, as two new head coaches with a proven record are taking over their respective programs. McMahon will join former Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly in Baton Rouge as the pair look to establish themselves early. While LSU’s football season ended with a disappointing record, LSU basketball finished with a six-seed in the NCAA Tournament before the firing of Wade. The Tigers bracket run ended quickly though at the hands of Iowa State, a team that shocked many by reaching the Sweet 16.

According to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports, the Gamecocks have instead “zeroed in” on Lamont Paris to be their next men’s basketball head coach. Spending the past five seasons with the Chattanooga Mocs as his first-ever head coaching job, Paris will now have his first one inside of a Power Six conference with South Carolina.