Mizzou set to hire new men’s basketball coach

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Mizzou men's basketball team has found its new leader in Cleveland State head coach Dennis Gates, a source confirmed to ABC 17 on Saturday.

Gates spent three seasons in Cleveland, appearing in the NCAA Tournament in 2021. The Vikings finished the 2021-22 campaign 20-11 overall, with 15 conference wins. He also won back-to-back conference titles and coach of the year recognitions. In his time with the Vikings, he ended up going 50-40 overall.

Before Cleveland State, Gates spent eight seasons as an assistant coach at Florida State.

The 42-year-old will reportedly replace former MU head coach Cuonzo Martin who was fired on March 11. Martin went 78-77 all time at Mizzou with two NCAA Tournament appearances.

Mizzou has not come out with any official word yet, as a new coach will have to be approved by the Board of Curators.