NASHVILLE – Lipscomb men’s basketball head coach Lennie Acuff announced three members of his coaching staff Friday, naming Roger Idstrom, Kevin Carroll and Tyler Murray assistant coaches.
“When putting this staff together, it could not have started any better than it did when Roger Idstrom decided to stay,” Acuff said. “He’s been a great help, and we’re really happy he’s decided to continue to be a part of our program. He brings a lot to the table.
“I’m equally as excited to add Kevin Carroll and Tyler Murray. Both of them bring a ton of integrity and character. They’re just a great fit for what we’re looking for at Lipscomb. They will really be impactful with our players, which is the most important thing.”
Idstrom remains on staff for his seventh season with the Bisons, where he spent the previous six years as the associate head coach. While working directly with the post players, Idstrom shared the recruiting, coaching and scouting responsibilities with the rest of the staff.
In his time in Nashville, Lipscomb has seen its most success in program history at the Division I level with three consecutive 20-win campaigns. He also helped coach 12 ASUN All-Conference selections and nine All-Academic honorees, as well as the program’s second-ever Player of the Year in Garrison Mathews.
In 2017-18 Idstrom played a pivotal role in guiding the Bisons to their first-ever ASUN Tournament title and the school’s first NCAA Tournament appearance where they faced the defending national champion North Carolina in Charlotte.
As the overwhelming league favorite entering the 2018-19 campaign, Lipscomb went on to win the ASUN regular season title behind a 14-2 mark and earned a trip to the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) where the Bisons made an incredible run to New York City and the NIT championship game. Thanks in large part to the success in the post, the Bisons recorded victories over Davidson, UNCG, North Carolina State and Wichita State en route to Madison Square Garden.
The Bisons also recorded the program’s first-ever win over a ranked opponent when it knocked off No. 18 TCU on its home floor, 73-64, in November.
Before spending two seasons at Stetson prior to Lipscomb, Idstrom was on staff at Belmont for 11 seasons pushing to Bruins to become one of the nation’s highest performing teams in the classroom. During Idstrom’s tenure at Belmont it was common place to see Bruins listed among on the Academic All-America team.
The Bruins were also extremely successful on the court during his tenure winning four Atlantic Sun Conference championships and making four trips to the NCAA Tournament.
A 1989 graduate of Mars Hill College, Idstrom spent time on staff at his alma mater as well as at UNC Asheville, Montreat, and Wabash Valley College before going to Gardner-Webb from 1998-2000. Gardner-Webb went 25-5 in 1999-00 and made the NCAA Division II tournament for the first time in school history.
Idstrom and his wife Jennifer have twin sons - Dane and Logan.
“Roger is a man of tremendous character and integrity as well,” Acuff said. “He’s really helped me in the transition – letting me know how things work at Lipscomb and helping me behind the scenes in being able to get stuff done.
“He’s also helped been able to make the transition with our players very easy. They like him, and he’s just got a really good handle on the Lipscomb way.”
Carroll comes to Lipscomb after serving two seasons at VMI (Virginia Military Institute).
Previously, Carroll spent seven seasons as the head coach at Division II Maryville University where helped the program through the end of its transition from Division III. His tenure was highlighted by the most successful season in program history in 2012-13 with a school record 23 wins and led the program to its first-ever win over a ranked team (No. 4 Bellarmine). That campaign was the first time in 34 years that the program won at least 20 games in a season.
During the 2015-16, Carroll helped guide Forrester Sims to third-team All-Conference honors. Academic success was plentiful as the Saints earned the NABC Team Academic Award for the third straight season. In addition, Derek Deters and Max Mischkulnig were selected to the NABC Honors Court for academic achievement.
During the 2013-14 year, Carroll helped Asa Toney earn first-team All-Conference honors for the second straight season. His coaching helped Toney finish fourth on the career scoring list, become the school’s all-time assist leader (395) and finish second on the career steals chart.
In his second year with the Saints, the squad nearly doubled its victory total from the year prior to 13. For the first time in program history, Maryville began a season with four straight victories. The Saints ranked in the top 20 nationally in 3-point field goals per game and were third in the GLVC in scoring defense.
Carroll has also had stints as an assistant coach at the Air Force Academy for three years, as the lead assistant under Acuff at Alabama-Huntsville for one season, and three years as the head coach at St. Pius X, one of Atlanta’s premier high school basketball programs.
While on staff at Air Force, the Falcons qualified for the Mountain West Conference tournament and advanced as far as the quarterfinals each year. He coached two Mountain West All-Conference selections, three Academic All-Conference honorees and one MWC Defensive Player of the Year.
“I coached Kevin, and Kevin has worked on staff for me before,” Acuff said. “He has extensive experience at the Division I level. He’s been a head coach at the Division II level and had a lot of success as well.
“His recruiting background and expertise will fit at Lipscomb. He has been at Air Force; he’s been at VMI, he’s been at schools that recruit kids who are high academic and high character kids. Kevin also understands our league and what it takes to win in the ASUN.”
Carroll earned his bachelor’s degree in math education from Berry College in Rome, Ga. in 2000. He was a four-year member of the men’s basketball team and helped guide the Vikings to three consecutive 20-win seasons. Carroll received the TranSouth Conference Scholar-Athlete Award for his efforts on the court and in the classroom his senior year. He earned his master’s degree in health sciences from the University of Alabama in 2002.
Carroll is a native of Wildwood, Georgia and is married to the former Caroline Wright of Franklinton, North Carolina. They are the parents of two sons – Luke and Levi.
Murray joins the Bisons after two years as an assistant coach for Furman University. Last season, he helped guide the Paladins to their second NIT appearance in program history and a No. 23 national ranking in the AP Top 25 poll.
Included in the school record 25 wins in 2018-19 was victories over 2018 national champion Villanova and Final Four participant Loyola Chicago. In two years with Furman, Murray helped lead the program to 48 total wins.
Prior to his time at Furman, Murray spent two seasons as the head coach of the men’s basketball program at Division II Shorter University.
“I think very highly of Tyler,” Acuff said. “He has really made his mark quick has a professional. He’s 33 years old and has already been a head coach at the Division II level and an assistant coach at the Division I level for four years – two at Charleston Southern and two at Furman.”
Before being elevated to head coach in 2015-16, Murray spent the previous six seasons as an assistant at Shorter where the Hawks completed their most successful run in program history while serving as recruiting coordinator and then as associate head coach beginning in 2012-13. In his first season as the top assistant, Shorter won 21 games and claimed the 2013 National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) national championship.
In his time as recruiting coordinator, Shorter won 119 games, made two national tournament appearances and captured the program’s first conference championship since 1977 during a record-setting 34-win campaign in 2011-12.
Murray departed for Charleston Southern in 2014-15 and helped the Bucs capture the Big South Conference regular season title and an NIT berth with a 19-12 overall record and a 13-5 mark in league play.
“Obviously Furman had a great year this year, and he was a big part of that,” Acuff said. “Tyler’s not just an outstanding recruiter, but he’s an outstanding basketball coach.”
Murray played his collegiate basketball at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, and led the Tigers to a berth in the NCAA Division III National Tournament in 2007 after winning the program’s 10th Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship as a junior.
He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Hampden-Sydney in 2008 and his Master of Arts from Shorter University in 2010.
Murray and his wife Jessica have two children – Carson and Carter – and are expecting a third in August.
A Director of Basketball Operations is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
