UM System Board of Curators approves new men’s basketball coach
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
In an executive session on Tuesday morning, the University of Missouri Board of Curators approved the hiring of Dennis Gates as MU's new men's basketball coach.
Mizzou Athletics scheduled an introductory press conference at noon on Tuesday to meet the new Tiger basketball coach.
“After a comprehensive and efficient national search, during which we had the privilege of speaking with an impressive group of coaches, it became clear Coach Gates was what we needed in the next leader of our basketball program,” Athletics Director Desiree Reed-Francois said in a press release on Tuesday. “He’s smart, driven and focused on winning. He's a proven recruiter, a strong evaluator of talent, an innovative teacher of the game and has a unique enthusiasm and passion for his work and for his student athletes that draws people in. He shares our vision of where Mizzou basketball can and will go. It is our privilege to welcome Coach Gates, his wife Jocelyn, and their family to Mizzou.”
Gates will come into the job with three years of head coaching experience at Cleveland State. He brought the Vikings to the NCAA Tournament in 2021 and to back-to-back Horizon League championships. The league also named Gates its coach of the year two out of his three seasons.
Watch the news conference to introduce Gates in the player above.
Before his time in Ohio, the 42-year-old was an assistant coach at Florida State. Overall, Gates has more than 17 years of experience coaching Division I basketball.
“I have been so fortunate throughout my career to work at some outstanding institutions with incredible people, and after doing my research and speaking with Desiree and President Choi, it is clear that Missouri is a tremendous opportunity with unlimited potential,” said Gates in a press release. “We will build a program that all Mizzou fans will be proud of, for how we play, how our student-athletes represent the University of Missouri and how our togetherness and work ethic will lead to on-court victories. I want to thank President Choi, the Board of Curators and Desiree for an outstanding opportunity.”
