Murray State’s Steve Prohm

Rebuilding on a Great Foundation

(St. Louis, MO) – When Murray State hired their newest head basketball coach, it had no players on its roster and then chose to pursue a name from the past. Now Murray State’s Steve Prohm is rebuilding on a great foundation.

Prohm led the Racer program to great heights in his first tour of duty (104-29) and mentored outgoing coach Matt McMahon in the process. While Prohm’s own apprenticeship under Billy Kennedy brought significant success, Prohm continued and exceeded Kennedy’s numbers.

McMahon continued Murray’s run of success and like Prohm before him, it earned McMahon a job with a power conference team. Last year’s squad went 31-3 and won an NCAA Tournament game. When the 154-67 McMahon was hired at LSU, Racer stars K.J. Williams, Justice Hill and Trae Hannibal went along. While all-league guard Tevin Brown graduated, all but two Racers transferred or graduated.

Prohm Coming Home

Prohm’s six years at Iowa State brought championships, awards and disappointment. While the Cyclones won two Big Twelve tournament championship titles, the final two seasons were a struggle. The Cyclones went 14-42 this last two seasons and Prohm was let go.  He and his family eventually moved back to Murray, Kentucky.

After a year off, his old job reopened and the opportunity to come home and lead the Racer hoops program into the Missouri Valley Conference was too enticing to pass up. In a ‘Captain Obvious’ kind of mutual decision, Prohm and Murray administrators realized the best man to rebuild on a great foundation was the man they used to have.

Prohm’s wife Katie is from the area and she has been through the highs and lows of a coaching career. Prohm is strengthened by his wife’s commitment and excited about competing in the Missouri Valley Conference.

 

Rebuilding on a Great Foundation

Needing to rebuild over 90 percent of the roster, Prohm hit the ground running. Only forward D.J. Burns and reserve Rod Thomas returned from last season’s team. During our current ‘portal pandemic’ roster fluidity is normal, but the Murray upheaval is titanic in nature.

Three of Matt McMahon’s four freshmen recruits decided to continue their commitments to the Racer program and Prohm landed three Division 1 players and six other transfers were located and signed.

This brand new team has a new coaching staff, but a staff that isn’t unfamiliar to Prohm or Murray State. While special assistant Marcus Brown is a Racer hall-of-famer, Cole Christian was a GA at Iowa State and Donte Poole was a player under Prohm at Murray.

Prohm believes ‘heart and soul’ guy D.J. Burns returning was an important piece to the rebuilding on the great foundation.

 

The Roster Makeup

Murray State has recruited guards! There are other players on the rebuilt roster, but guards take the center stage. Three Division 1 guard transfers bring immediate experience and proven abilities. Kenny White (Tennessee Tech), Robin Perry (Stetson) and Jacobi Wood (Belmont) have size, scoring ability and versatility. White was battling a hand injury but is back at full strength.

While Division 2 and junior college guards Brian Moore and Quincy Anderson were big time performers at their previous stops, freshmen Braxton Stacker, Jaxon Edwards, Justin Morgan and Patrick Chew had outstanding prep careers.

That’s nine guards for you keeping score at home. Only Wood stands shorter that 6’4 and he’s 6’2. Prohm likes to play four guards and have guards that can play multiple positions.

 

 

Prohm has added D2 vet Jamari Smith, East Carolina transfer Marlon Lestin and Mississippi native Same Murray II to the front court. All are 6’8 or bigger. Smith is the cousin of NBA first round pick Jabari Smith and was a D2 all-American at Queens College. Murray is a four-star recruit who averaged 18 points and nearly nine rebounds per game.

While talent is an important ingredient to winning, Prohm says rebuilding on a great foundation requires finding the right kind of people as much as the right kind of talent.

 

 

Returning A Little Different

Prohm’s passion for the game and for working with young men is undeniable. He looks back at his previous time at Murray and his seasons at Iowa State and says he is a slightly different coach that went to Ames in the first place.

The 49-year-old Prohm lists some administrative adjustments he has learned as important, but more importantly, his ability to connect with and care for his players and staff. He has always been a relational coach and cared deeply about those around him, but believes he can still improve in that area.

 

 

To listen to our entire conversation head to Valley Hoops Insider Podcasts. Head to YouTube to watch the interview.

Murray State’s Steve Prohm is rebuilding on a great foundation and is thrilled at the challenge of guiding the Racer program into the demanding Missouri Valley Conference. Lessons learned at Iowa State and returning to the program he loves suit this coach well.

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