A Conversation with AD Kevin Saal
(St. Louis, MO) – Murray State nearly became a part of the Missouri Valley Conference in 2017 and now will become a part of the league in 2022. Director of Athletics Kevin Saal says Murray State’s journey proved the time was right and values aligned for the league and university to finally make the connection.
Saal has been on the job since March of 2019 and thus not a part of the 2017 conversations, but is bullish about what has happened. Murray State joins other Valley newcomers Belmont and Illinois-Chicago joining the conference this coming July. Loyola Chicago is leaving for the Atlantic Ten Conference.
As a charter member of the Ohio Valley Conference, this was a difficult decision. There was a ‘business side’ and an emotional side to the decisions made by the Murray State administration.
When Eastern Kentucky, Jacksonville State, Austin Peay and Belmont announced their departure from the 74-year-old conference, Murray administrators chose to diligently assess their athletic future. While staying in the OVC was a viable and desirable option, it was clear it wasn’t MSU’s only option.
Generations of Murray State fans are proud of its long association with the Ohio Valley Conference. Since Saal says Murray athletics is stronger because of its long association with the OVC, they truly want their departure to be done with respect and honor.
Murray State’s Journey Forward
The 2022 edition of Racers’ basketball is 20-2 and starting to receive votes in the national polls. Murray has hovered in the top ten of the ‘Mid-Major Top 25‘ most of the season and guard Tevin Brown just set the OVC’s all-time three-point basket record. The basketball team is flying high.
When asked about head coach Matt McMahon, Saal simply says the seventh-year coach is ‘one of the best’.
Murray State fans are unique. They travel well and have made a huge impact on the OVC Tournament. Thousands of Racer fans attend the Evansville-based championships each season. Saal says he anticipates they will take a similar approach to Arch Madness (the MVC Tournament) and says Valley fans should expect to see MSU fans during the regular season too.
Our entire conversation can be heard at Valley Hoops Insider Podcasts and can be seen on YouTube. While discussing the team, he sounded like a basketball analyst giving his take on every player on the team.
Murray State is coming to the Valley to compete for basketball championships and to continue to dislike the Belmont Bruins. To learn more about Belmont, view our interview with Bruins’ AD Scott Corley.
Do Good
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As we near the closing of the portal window, we've reached 1900. Some of them never to play college basketball again, earn a college degree and some to play at a much lower level than they did last season.
I guess we'll be seeing this in a @RacersHoops uniform this year. Glad AJ is staying in the @ValleyHoops.
