Chris Mudge promoted to head coach at Sam Houston State
Chris Mudge has been promoted to head coach at Sam Houston State, the school announced on Monday evening. Mudge had been associate head coach the last two seasons and spent a total of 13 years on Jason Hooten‘s staff.
“I couldn’t be happier to name Chris Mudge as the next head coach for our basketball program,” AD Bobby Williams said in the release. “While going through this process it became evident from everyone I spoke with that he was the right person for this job. He understands the culture that has been built here and what it’s going to take to succeed as we head to Conference USA.”
Mudge is a native of Round Rock, TX and served as head manager with Rick Barnes‘ men’s basketball program during his undergrad years at Texas. He then worked as a graduate assistant, overlapping with future NBA stars Kevin Durant, LaMarcus Aldridge and P.J. Tucker.
“The tradition that Coach Bob Marlin and Coach Hooten have put in place over the last 26 years is just incredible,” Mudge said. “and it’s an honor to be chosen as the next head coach to carry that into Conference USA. None of this would be possible without the tremendous young men who have helped shape the winning culture of this program. I am proud to have been a part of helping these players grow as they have become amazing men, husbands and fathers.”
In 2010, Mudge became Hooten’s first hire at SHSU, spending the next eleven years as an assistant before getting the promoted to associate head coach in 2021. The Bearkats are coming off a 26-8 season in which they reached they were invited to their second NIT in the last five years. The program consistently finished in the top half of the Southland (2010-21) and WAC (2021-23) under Hooten but never got over the hump and into the Big Dance. Their last NCAA Tournament appearance was in 2010.
The program is moving to Conference USA in July, where they will remain conference foes with New Mexico State, who hired away Hooten last month.
credit to Sam Houston State Athletics for the image
