Missouri Southern State University Men's Basketball

Sam McMahon was announced as the seventh head basketball coach in Missouri Southern history on April 5, 2022. Heading into his fourth season in 2025-26, he has a 41-46 overall record.   2024-25 Season In year three, MSSU went 11-17 (6-13 MIAA) as Martin Macenis picked up All-MIAA honors. 2023-24 Season In year two, McMahon led the Lions to a 13-6 mark and .500 record in MIAA play. MSSU appeared in the opening round of the MIAA Tournament. Darius Dawson, Martin Macenis, and Vinson Sigmon Jr. each earned All-MIAA honors. 2022-23 Season 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. Prior MSSU Experience McMahon is 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. Central Methodist University 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.   Missouri State 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. Personal 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 four children, Maverick, Eva, Nova and Devin. 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.”            Jeff Sherman, Head Coach, Central Methodist University All-MIAA selections through the years 2024-25 Martin Macenis - Honorable Mention, Guard 2023-24 Darius Dawson - Second Team All-MIAA, Forward Martin Macenis - Honorable Mention, Guard Vinson Sigmon Jr. - Honorable Mention, Guard 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 2023-24 13-16 11-11 (8th) MIAA Tournament Appearance 2024-25 11-17 6-13 (13th)  –– Overall 41-46 29-34 2x MIAA Tournament Appearance  

Jason Owens is in his fourth year (2025-26) as an assistant coach for the Missouri Southern men's basketball program.  Owens comes to the Lions after two seasons at Missouri State - West Plains where he helped the Grizzlies to a 13-9 record in his first season. Prior to MSUWP, Owens coached at Southeast Missouri State where he was an assistant to head coach Ricky Ray.  Prior to SEMO, Owens coached two years at Pittsburg State where he helped the Gorillas to back-to-back winning seasons. He helped mentor four All-MIAA student-athletes. Prior to Pittsburg State Owens spent three seasons as assistant coach at Moberly Area Community College under Pat Smith. While at Moberly, he helped the Greyhounds compile a 72-26 record and earn NJCAA Region 16 and District 5 titles, as well as a NJCAA Sweet 16 appearance in 2015-2016. He helped 24 Greyhounds advance to play at the NCAA Division 1 or Division 2 level during his tenure at Moberly. Owens began his coaching career as an assistant at Neosho County Community College in Kansas. He then returned to his alma mater (Siena Heights) to serve as an assistant coach from 2007-2010. While at Siena, he coached four NAIA All-Americans and helped lead the Saints to a 44-20 record.  The Detroit, Michigan, native played four years at Siena Heights University in Adrian, Michigan, where he earned a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies in 2006. He was a two-year team captain and all-conference honoree for the Saints. Owens is married to Shaileen Owens. The couple has two children, Jason Jr. and Maliya.