First-year head coach Rob Murphy was named Mid-American Conference Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year for the 2011-12 season. EMU won the MAC West Division with a 9-7 conference mark.

“It’s humbling for me to be honored as the MAC Coach of the Year,” said Murphy after the game. “I credit my staff for their daily commitment and preparation in all areas of our program as we continue to lay our foundation. I want to publicly thank Jim Boeheim (Syracuse) and Jim Christian (Kent State) for the opportunity they gave me to be an assistant coach. The knowledge I learned the previous nine years as part of their coaching staffs has made me grateful,” added Murphy.

Murphy was named EMU’s head coach, April 21, 2011, after spending the previous seven years as an assistant men’s basketball coach at Syracuse University. A native Detroiter, Murphy played his collegiate basketball at Central State in Ohio.