Named the head coach at Minnesota State prior to the start of the 2001-02 season,
Matt Margenthaler has built one of the top NCAA Division II programs in the nation. A 1991 Western Illinois graduate, Margenthaler has guided the Mavericks to a 488-211 mark for a .698 winning percentage, eight conference championships, 14 NCAA Tournament appearances and an NCAA Division II Championship during the 2023-24 season in his 23 years with the program.
The 2023-24 Minnesota State men's basketball season will go down as one of the most memorable in team history as the Mavericks went 35-2, en route to winning their first NCAA Division II Championship in team history. Along the way, MSU set several team single-season records including scoring (3.141), field goals (1,159), field goals attempted (2,362), three point field goals (342), three point field goals attempted (895), rebounds (1,431), games played (37), wins (35) and winning percentage (.945).
Behind a 16-0 start, the Mavericks cruised to a 26-2 record during the regular season as they claimed their fifth NSIC regular season championship under Margenthaler. The Mavericks were ranked in the top-10 of the NABC poll every week during the season, including the team's second #1 ranking in team history on January 16th. Four Mavericks received All-NSIC honors, including Malik Willingham who was named the NSIC Player of the Year. Margenthaler also garnered his fourth NSIC Coach of the Year award. With the No. 1 seed in the NSIC Tournament, Minnesota State defeated Sioux Falls (78-64) and Southwest Minnesota State (68-67) before squaring off with Minnesota Duluth in the finals of the NSIC Tournament. After a close first half, the Mavericks turned in a dominant second-half performance that saw them outscore the Bulldogs 50-36 to claim 97-77 win.
Minnesota State was named the No. 1 seed and would host the NCAA Central Region Tournament for the fifth time under Margenthaler. The Mavericks battled to a 75-68 win over Arkansas Tech in the opening round, before they charged past MSU Moorhead 78-55 in the second round. In the regional championship game vs. Northwest Missouri State, 4,519 fans packed Taylor Center to witness a defensive battle that saw both teams combine for 85 points. The Bearcats led 42-41 as they went to the line shooting one and one with 5.5 seconds left. After the missed free throw, Kyreese Willingham rebounded the ball before passing it up to his brother Malik Willingham. With the final seconds ticking, Malik found Elijah Hazekamp who hit the game-winning shot from the right elbow as time expired to give the Mavericks the 43-42 win.
With their second NCAA Central Region Championship under Margenthaler in the books, the Mavericks then traveled to Evansville, Ind. for the NCAA Elite Eight. The Mavericks went on to defeat Ferris State 98-70 in the Elite Eight and West Texas A&M 79-72 in the Final Four to advance to their first NCAA Championship game. Against Nova Southeastern in the championship game, the lead changed hands 13 times as both teams were tied at 85-85 with less than a minute to go. An NSU turnover with 27 seconds left gave the Mavericks possession for the final shot. With the final seconds ticking down, Justin Eagins passed to Malik Willingham, who then found his brother Kyreese Willingham in the corner for the game-winning three pointer that gave the Mavericks the 88-85 win.
The Mavericks got their first 20-win season and NCAA appearance under the Macomb, Ill., native in 2004-05. The Mavericks responded with a second consecutive 24-win season – and another NCAA Tournament appearance – in 2005. The 2005-06 season was a special one on many levels as MSU finished 9-3 in the always-difficult North Central Conference, claiming the league crown, spring boarding the Mavericks into a run of three consecutive league crowns before the NCC disbanded in 2008.
The 2006-07 team won 28 games en route to earning a spot in the NCAA Central Region Championship where it lost to Winona State for the right to attend the Elite Eight. The 20-win magic continued in 2007-08 as the Mavericks finished with 22 wins, while the 2008-09 season – MSU’s first in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference saw MSU finish 26-9.
The Mavericks rattled off a 25-win season in 2009-10, winning the NSIC with a 17-3 record and earning the right to host the NCAA Central Region tournament where it fell to St. Cloud State in the semifinals.
The 2010-11 season saw the Mavericks roll to a 28-win season en route its second straight NSIC title and earning the right to host the NCAA Regional for the second consecutive season. This time history didn’t repeat itself for MSU as it rolled Winona State, 96-61, before upending Metro State, 69-65, to earn second-ever bid in the regional finals. In sticking with the “History Not Repeating Itself” modus operandi, MSU raced to a 44-34 halftime advantage and never looked back as it defeated Fort Lewis, 81-63, earning its first-ever bid to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight Tournament to close out the regional tournament. The Mavericks opened the Elite Eight with a thrilling, 95-91 overtime victory over Alabama-Huntsville before falling to Bellarmine – the eventual national champion – 81-74 in the national semifinals.
The 2011-12 season will go down as a rebuilding one for the Mavericks as Minnesota State played to a 7-19 record. A down year however still turned up some potential as freshman forward Zach Romashko became the first player under Margenthaler to earn Freshman of the Year honors by the league.
The 2012-13 season saw a resurgent Maverick team that claimed both the NSIC Regular Season and Tournament Championships, en route to a 28-5 record. The Mavericks hosted their third NCAA Central Region Tournament in four seasons where they posted a pair of convincing wins against Arkansas Tech (81-65) and Harding (86-65) before heading into an NSIC clash with Winona State in the NCAA Central Region Championship game. In front of the third largest crowd in Taylor Center history (4,137), the Mavericks and Warriors put on an overtime thriller that saw 20 lead changes as neither team led by more than six points the whole way. Winona State would eventually claim the game with a 76-73 win in overtime.
The Mavericks established a school single-season record in 2013-14 with 30 wins, as they finished their year with a 30-5 record. MSU, which garnered three All-NSIC recipients, won its second straight NSIC Regular Season and Tournament Championships. Junior guard
Zach Monaghan was named the NSIC Most Outstanding Player, while junior forward
Assem Marei was named All-NSIC First Team. MSU went on to host its fourth NCAA Central Region Tournament in the last five seasons. The Mavericks opened the tournament with a decisive 97-56 victory over Harding, but ultimately fell to Northwest Missouri State 71-66 in the second round of the tournament. Along the way, the 2013-14 men’s basketball squad set several new records including points (2,973), field goal percentage (.505), three point field goals (297), rebounds (1,421) and assists (600).
The 2014-15 season saw the Mavericks make their 11th appearance in the NCAA Tournament (and tenth under Margenthaler) as they finished with a 24-8 overall record, including a third-place finish in the NSIC with a 17-5 league record. Minnesota State went 22-10 and made its 11th NCAA tournament appearance under Margenthaler in 2015-16. The Mavericks posted their 12th 20-win season under Margenthaler as they went 21-10 during the 2016-17 season, but they did reach the NCAA Tournament.
Minnesota State once again reached the 20-win plateau during the 2017-18 season, marking the 13th time under Margenthaler that the Mavericks have posted more than 20 wins in a season. MSU finished its season with a 24-10 record as it advanced the the NCAA Tournament for the 12th time with Margenthaler at the helm. Both senior
Charlie Brown and sophomore
Kevin Krieger received All-NSIC First Team honors for their efforts during the season. With wins over Northwest Missouri State (60-50) and Southwest Minnesota State (74-70), the Mavericks made their fourth appearance in the "Sweet 16" and first since 2013. MSU battled with Northern State in the third round, but it was the Wolves that came away with the 90-83 win.
The Mavericks reached the NCAA Tournament for the 13th time under Margenthaler during the 2018-19 season as they finished with an 18-12 record. MSU also claimed a share of the NSIC South Division Championship behind a 14-8 NSIC record, marking the third time that the Mavericks have claimed the south division title. Junior
Cameron Kirksey claimed All-NSIC First Team honors for his efforts, while senior
Carlos Anderson and junior
Kevin Krieger received an NSIC Honorable Mention.
Minnesota State put together its 17th winning season in 2019-20 under Margenthaler as the Mavericks finished with a 17-15 record, despite being bit by the injury bug. Senior
Cameron Kirksey claimed All-NSIC Frist Team honors for the second consecutive season, while sophomore
Kelby Kramer was named the NSIC Newcomer of the Year and freshman
Ryland Holt was named the NSIC Freshman of the Year. Both Holt and Kramer garnered a pair of NSIC South Division Player of the Week awards each.
The shortened 2020-21 season saw the Mavericks notch their 18th winning season under Margenthaler as they went 10-7 overall, including a 9-5 record in NSIC South Division competition. Sophomore Quincy Anderson was named to the All-NSIC South Division First Team, while junior Devonte Thedford garnered NSIC South Division Newcomer of the Year accolades.
The Mavericks recorded their 19th winning season under Margenthaler during the 2021-22 campaign as they posted a record of 16-10, including a 9-9 NSIC record. Quincy Anderson would garner All-NSIC Second Team honors.
Margenthaler's 22nd season saw the Mavericks put together their 20th winning season during his tenure as the Mavericks finished with a 17-12 record, including an 11-11 NSIC record. Malik Willingham was named to the All-NSIC First Team, while Trevor Moore was named to the All-NSIC Second Team.
Under Margenthaler’s tutelage, several players have flourished, spearheaded by seven All-Americans, including guard
Malik Willingham who averaged 18.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game was named to the D2CCA All-American First Team for his efforts during the 2023-24 NCAA Championship season.
Jefferson Mason received All-American honors in 2010-11 season from both the Basketball Times and the National Basketball Coaches Association after averaging 19.2 points per game and 8.8 rebounds while shooting 55.5 percent from the floor.
Travis Nelson earned the honor in 2010 after averaging 16.1 points and 5.8 rebounds as senior.
Atlia Santos was tabbed an All-American in 2007-08 after averaging 16.1 points and 10.6 rebounds while forward
Luke Anderson was named an All-American following the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons as he wrapped up his storied career as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 2,328 career points.
Jamel Staten earned the first All-American award under Margenthaler following the 2004-05 season in which he averaged 21.4 points per game to go with 78 rebounds per contest.
Zach Monaghan averaged 15.4 points and eight assists per game, established a school single-season record with 282 assists and was named an All-American in 2013-14.
It’s not just about the All-American awards however as 46 Mavericks have earned All-NCC or All-NSIC honors under Margenthaler.
A seven-time conference coach of the year, Margenthaler has tutored eight league newcomers of the year, two freshmen of the year, five defensive players of the year and four most valuable players. Additionally, since joining the NSIC, the Mavericks have had 47 players earn Academic All-NSIC honors.
The all-time winningest coach in Minnesota State's history, Margenthaler has served as member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches Board of Directors since 2014.
Prior to coming to Minnesota State, Margenthaler served as an assistant coach at South Dakota State University for six seasons, helping to assemble a program that went 135-39 (.775) from 1996-2001, captured three NCC championships, made four NCAA post-season tournament appearances and one appearance at the NCAA Division II Elite Eight championship. A 1991 graduate of Western Illinois, he was a First Team Academic Mid-Continent selection in 1990-91.
Margenthaler and his wife, Dawn, have two sons, Jon Brock and Riley. The couple resides on Lake Francis.
A second-generation head coach, Margenthaler is the son of former Western Illinois and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville head coach Jack Margenthaler, and Matt’s brother Ty Margenthaler is the associate women’s basketball head coach at Saint Louis University.
| Matt Margenthaler at Minnesota State Year-By-Year |
| Year |
GP |
Wins |
Losses |
W% |
Noteables |
| 2001-02 |
26 |
9 |
17 |
.346 |
|
| 2002-03 |
28 |
15 |
13 |
.536 |
|
| 2003-04 |
28 |
18 |
10 |
.643 |
|
| 2004-05 |
32 |
24 |
8 |
.750 |
NCAA qualifier |
| 2005-06 |
31 |
24 |
7 |
.774 |
NCC Champions, NCAA qualifier |
| 2006-07 |
33 |
28 |
5 |
.848 |
NCC Champions, NCAA qualifier |
| 2007-08 |
29 |
22 |
7 |
.759 |
NCC Champions, NCAA qualifier |
| 2008-09 |
35 |
26 |
9 |
.743 |
NCAA qualifier |
| 2009-10 |
30 |
25 |
5 |
.833 |
NSIC Champions, NCAA qualifier |
| 2010-11 |
33 |
28 |
5 |
.848 |
NSIC Champions, NCAA qualifier, NCAA Regional champions, NCAA semi-finalist |
| 2011-12 |
26 |
7 |
19 |
.269 |
|
| 2012-13 |
33 |
28 |
5 |
.848 |
NSIC Champions, NSIC Tournament Champions, NCAA qualifier |
| 2013-14 |
35 |
30 |
5 |
.857 |
NSIC Champions, NSIC Tournament Champions, NCAA qualifier |
| 2014-15 |
32 |
24 |
8 |
.750 |
NCAA qualifier |
| 2015-16 |
32 |
22 |
10 |
.688 |
NCAA qualifier |
| 2016-17 |
31 |
21 |
10 |
.677 |
|
| 2017-18 |
34 |
24 |
10 |
.705 |
NCAA qualifier |
| 2018-19 |
30 |
18 |
12 |
.600 |
NCAA qualifier |
| 2019-20 |
32 |
17 |
15 |
.531 |
|
| 2020-21 |
17 |
10 |
7 |
.588 |
|
| 2021-22 |
26 |
16 |
10 |
.615 |
|
| 2022-23 |
29 |
17 |
12 |
.586 |
|
| 2023-24 |
37 |
35 |
2 |
.946 |
NSIC Champions, NSIC Tournament Champions, NCAA Regional Champions, NCAA Champions |
| Totals |
699 |
488 |
211 |
.698 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Named NCC Coach of the Year in 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Named NSIC Coach of the Year in 2010, 2011, 2014, 2014 |
Win No. 100 - December 9, 2006 vs. Saint Mary's in Mankato, Minn. | W, 79-57
Win No. 200 - December 18, 2010 at Winona State in Winona, Minn. | W, 80-74
Win No. 300 - January 24, 2015 vs. Sioux Falls in Mankato, Minn. | W, 76-62
Win No. 400 - January 4, 2020 vs. University of Mary in Mankato, Minn. | W, 69-65
