Report: former Mizzou head coach working towards deal to return to Missouri State

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KMIZ)

According to a report from ESPN college insider Pete Thamel, former Mizzou men's basketball coach Cuonzo Martin is in talks with Missouri State to retake the reigns of the program.

It will not be Martin's first time in Springfield, as he coached the Bears from 2008 to 2011 before leaving for the head coaching job at Tennessee. After his time with the Volunteers came to an end, he coached at California and then got hired by Mizzou in 2017.

Martin was the head coach of the Tigers until 2022, when he was fired after five seasons. In his time in Columbia he went 78-77 overall, made two NCAA Tournament appearances and finished nine games below the .500 mark in his final year at the helm.

Assuming the deal goes through with Missouri State, Martin will replace former Bears head coach Dana Ford who was fired by the department on March 10.

In his first stint with Missouri State, Martin led the team to a Missouri Valley Conference regular season championship in 2011. He also earned conference coach of the year honors following that season.

There has been no official word from either Martin or Missouri State on the hire, yet.