A New Era for Coyotes Basketball
South Dakota’s men’s basketball program announced this week that Matt Murken has been elevated to associate head coach, a move that locks him in for the 2026‑27 season.
Murken arrives after a 20‑year journey through college sidelines, most recently guiding Minot State to back‑to‑back 20‑win seasons before joining the Coyotes in May 2025.
His impact was immediate; the offense he helped shape posted a 79.6 points‑per‑game average, placing fourth in the Summit League and 88th nationally.
Strategic Emphasis on Scoring Efficiency
The team also ranked fifth in the country for free‑throw volume, shooting 19.4 made and attempting 26.4 per game, underscoring a disciplined attacking style.
That production helped two of his pupils, Cameron Fens and Jordan Crawford, earn spots on the All‑Summit League squads, highlighting his player‑development pedigree.
Beyond the X’s and O’s, Murken holds a Master of Science in education from Wayne State and a Bachelor of Science in secondary education from Concordia (Neb.), where he also earned NAIA Academic All‑American honors as a player.