DMACC Bears Athletics Program
Men's Basketball Coaches
Meet the Coaches
2009-2010 Coaching Staff
Head Coach:
BJ McGinn
Assistant Coaches:
Matt Murken
Spencer Esslinger
Head Coach BJ McGinn
bjmcginn@dmacc.edu
BJ McGinn begins his first season as Head Coach at Des Moines Area Community College. He served as Associate Head Coach for the 2008-2009 season and as an assistant coach in previous seasons at DMACC.
During his time with the Bears, McGinn has helped guide them to a record of 75-22 over three seasons. The 2006-07 Bears compiled a school best record of 31-5, won the Region 11 championship, advanced to the Elite Eight, and finished the season ranked fifth in the country. The 2007-08 Bears finished with a record of 24-6 and a final national ranking of seventh. The 2008-2009 team finished with a record of 20-11 and advanced to the regional semi-finals. During this period, the Bears have had 11 All-Region performers and 2 All-Americans.
Prior to coaching at DMACC, McGinn served as an assistant coach and NCAA Division II Wayne State College in Nebraska for three seasons. Following the first year of both his stops in Wayne, the Wildcats doubled their season win totals the next year and produced eleven all conference performers. McGinn also had a two year stint at NJCAA Division I Eastern Arizona College where he helped guide the Gilamonsters to a 37-23 record, while producing seven all-region performers and one All-American. Before entering the college ranks, McGinn was an assistant Coach at Cedar Falls High School in Cedar Falls, Iowa from 1998-2001. He also spent time as an assistant coach at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa from 1996-97.
McGinn is a native of Cedar Falls, Iowa and earned his bachelor's degree in secondary education from the University of Northern Iowa in 2001. He then went on to earn his master's degree in athletic administration from Wayne State College in 2003. He resides in Boone with his wife Alisha and her son Cole.
Assistant Coach Matt Murken
mpmurken@dmacc.edu
Matt Murken enters his first season at DMACC after six seasons at Wayne State College in Wayne, NE. Matt’s duties for the Bears include recruiting coordinator, player development, scouting and game preparation, academic coordinator, and camp coordinator. In addition, he oversees all aspects of the day-to-day operations of the program.
At Wayne State he was the Wildcat’s post player coach and served as the recruiting coordinator, camp coordinator, academic coordinator and organized off-season individual workouts. He was a graduate assistant coach in 2003-04 and moved up to full-time assistant in the 2004-05 season. Murken came to Wayne State after spending two seasons as an assistant coach at Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. While at Mount Mercy, Murken helped the Mustangs to a 34-25 record over two seasons and a national ranking both years. He controlled the perimeter players in addition to recruiting and conditioning programs
Matt has extensive experience as a coach and clinician at basketball camps and clinics, working more than 50 venues across the United States. In the summer of 2008, Murken added international coaching to his coaching record by touring Kenya with Athletes in Action. The group conducted basketball clinics for coaches from the Kenyan National Team, Kenyan and Ugandan colleges, the Kenyan professional league and area high school teams.
Murken got his coaching start at Cedar Rapids Xavier High School in Iowa where he served as an assistant varsity coach and head junior varsity coach. He was a member of the Saints staff for one season. During his time in Cedar Rapids, he also taught full time at Trinity Lutheran School.
Murken, a graduate of Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska, played shooting guard during his collegiate career. During his playing career, the Bulldogs had three, 18+ win seasons and three trips to the NAIA national tournament. He was also named to the NAIA Academic All-American team twice.
A native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Murken attended Prairie High School where he was a two year starter. He was a member of the 1994 team which made the school’s first state tournament appearance.
Murken graduated from Concordia in 2000 and earned his master’s degree in sport management at Wayne State College in May, 2006.
Assistant Coach Spencer Esslinger
saesslinger@dmacc.edu
The 2009-2010 basketball season marks Spencer Esslinger’s sixth year as an assistant with the DMACC Bears basketball program. During Esslinger’s years at DMACC, the Bears have averaged 25 wins a season, including a NJCAA Region XI Championship in 2007. DMACC has also produced 18 All-Region players and 3 NJCAA All-American’s in Coach Esslinger’s tenure at DMACC.
Prior to coaching at DMACC, Coach Esslinger spent two seasons as an assistant coach at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, MN. While at St. Cloud, Esslinger helped coach the Huskies to a North Central Conference Championship and a birth in the NCAA Division II National Tournament. In addition to coaching at St. Cloud State, Esslinger also spent 6 seasons as an assistant coach at Ames High School in Ames, IA.
Spencer earned his Bachelor’s degree in History from Iowa State University and his Master’s Degree in Sports Management from St. Cloud State University. His duties at DMACC include on the floor coaching, recruiting, scouting and film exchange.
In addition to coaching at DMACC, Spencer is also a social studies teacher at Ames Middle School. Spencer, along with his wife Katie and daughter Shelby, reside in Ames.