Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
By Hunt Palmer
Will Wade is entering. That means Matt McMahon is out of a job.
LSU fired McMahon Thursday after four seasons. The coach posted a 60-70 overall record in Baton Rouge and won just 17 SEC games against 55 losses. LSU never posted a winning conference record or made the NCAA Tournament under McMahon’s direction.
The Tigers finished last in the SEC in 2025-26 with a second consecutive 3-15 record.
McMahon took over a program mired in a lengthy NCAA investigation that cost Will Wade his job in 2021. After a 14-19, 2-16 season in McMahon’s first year, the Tigers went 9-9 in league play in 2023-24 and qualified for the NIT. That first round exit against North Texas in the Maravich Center was the high point of the four-year run.
Injuries played a part in LSU conference collapse this season. Forward Jalen Reed never took the floor in an SEC game, and point guard Dedan Thomas Jr. was injured the week prior to conference play. He only played in three league games. Thomas was in the top 10 nationally in assists and leading the team in scoring before he went down.
McMahon is owed 80 percent of the remainder of his seven-year contract. That comes to nearly $8 million in buyout payments moving forward.
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