By Kyle Kandetzki - SPORTS EDITOR
Shane Nichols, assistant under Pride Men’s Basketball head coach Joe Mihalich in his two seasons at Hofstra, has left the program to take the same role at Murray State.
Nichols not only was a top assistant behind the Pride’s 20-win season in 2014-15, but spent his a year with Mihalich at Niagara, where they earned an NIT bid.
The departure will leave a hole in what once was a trio of assistants, including Mike Farrelly and Speedy Claxton, who was promoted to assistant this past season.
In a statement Tuesday, Nichols said, “When the opportunity to come to Murray State came about, I was very excited about it…Thanks to Coach Mihalich at Hofstra for all he's done for me.”
Nichols is joining a Murray State program that is experiencing a lot of changes. After going 16-0 in the Ohio Valley Conference, the Racers lost in the OVC Tournament, and were not granted a bid the NCAA Tournament.
Despite this, head coach Steve Prohm had made a name for himself, and was chosen as the next Iowa State head coach. On June 9th, former assistant Matt McMahon was named to take his Prohm’s job.
The now vacant spot is now one of only two voids left before the 2015-16 men’s basketball team is basically set, along with one more scholarship that has yet to be given out.