MU agrees to separation package with former basketball coach
The next time the University of Missouri men’s basketball team takes the court, it will be under a new head coach.
It didn’t come as a surprise to many fans when Mizzou Athletics announced Sunday afternoon that former head Coach Kim Anderson would step down at the end of the season.
That moment came in a 74-86 loss at the hand’s of Ole Miss in the Southeastern Conference basketball tournament.
“I think when I walk out of here or when I leave, which will be tomorrow, I think that — I think we did some good things,” said Anderson following Thursday’s loss.
The team finishes the season with an overall record of 8-24 and a conference record of 2-16. The loss also brought Anderson’s career total at MU to 26-67 (.280) and just 8-46 (.148) in SEC play.
“We didn’t generate enough money. And when you don’t do that in college athletics, you don’t get to keep your job. I’m not bitter. I certainly understand that. I understand that.”
On Friday, ABC 17 News obtained a copy of the agreement between the University and Anderson.
The agreement was approved on Monday by Interim Chancellor Hank Foley and Anderson.
According to the agreement, Anderson’s last official day with the school is April 4.
“You know, if you would have asked me when did you know you were going to get fired, I would have said probably the first day I took the job,” said Anderson.
First-year Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Jim Sterk will continue to oversee Anderson during that time.
Anderson will continue to make the same salary established in his employment contract. MU will also continue to provide full-time employee benefits to Anderson.
The agreement doesn’t obligate Anderson to stay with the University. Anderson can seek employment or accept another position before April 4.
The document reveals Anderson received a lump sum payment of $450,000 from Mizzou.
MU will also pay another $200,000, distributed into an annuity fund. The payment is for exceeding academic achievements and social responsibilities that were created for Anderson during the 2016-17 basketball season.
Finally, the University will compensate Anderson for outstanding vacation time he accrued while head coach.
Anderson was hired nearly three years ago on April 30, 2014, by then-Director of Athletics Mack Rhoades (now at Baylor University) after former head coach Frank Haith bolted for the University of Tulsa.
It was a homecoming for Anderson, who played for Missouri (1973-77) under coaching legend Norm Stewart. After a spending a few years playing in the NBA, Anderson again joined the University as an assistant coach under Stewart in 1982.
After winning the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Championship with the University of Central Missouri in 2014, Anderson again joined the Tigers, this time as head coach.
ABC 17 News has compiled a list of coaching candidates mentioned in local or national reports.
Here are a few names Mizzou may target that have been mentioned by local and national reports as well as ABC 17 sources:
South Carolina’s Frank Martin Washington’s Lorenzo Romar Oklahoma State’s Brad Underwood California’s Cuonzo Martin St. Louis University’s Travis Ford VCU’s Will Wade Indiana’s Tom Crean
ABC 17 Sports Director Austin Kim also inquired about Virginia Tech’s Buzz Williams. But a source told ABC 17 that Williams “will not take the job,” citing Williams’ $3 million salary next season, his unwillingness to take on another rebuild job and his desire to keep his kids in the same high school for four years.
