By: MIKE McCURRY
Add Missouri to the list of programs that will be searching for a new head coach this offseason.
Kim Anderson was officially let go by the SEC institution on Sunday. Anderson was 26-67 in his three seasons at the helm, including a 7-23 record this year.
“This decision has been very difficult for me personally because of the tremendous respect I have for Kim,” Missouri Athletic Director Jim Sterk said in a statement. “I know how hard he and his staff have worked to turn the program around over the last three years, however, the lack of on-court success has resulted in a significant drop in interest surrounding our program, and we could not afford for that to continue another year.”
When Frank Haith left for Tulsa back in April 2014, Missouri went the unconventional route in hiring a successor in Anderson, who at the time was a Division 2 head coach at Central Missouri.
The Tigers’ bold gamble did not pay off as well as they hoped. Under Anderson’s direction, Mizzou went 8-46 in SEC play.
“Missouri is a special institution to my family and I, and I am grateful for having had the opportunity to serve as the head coach at my alma mater,” Anderson said, per the same release. “While we have faced significant challenges over the last three years and been unable to achieve the on-court results everyone would have liked, I do believe we have been able to stabilize the program while watching our players become responsible young men on and off the court.”
According to Goodman, Missouri has entrusted Dan Parker & Associates with searching for Anderson’s replacement. A couple of Pac-12 coaches, Cal’s Cuonzo Martin and Washington’s Lorenzo Romar, have already been linked to the opening.
Indiana’s Tom Crean is another potential candidate.
Photo: Columbia Missourian
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