Mizzou men’s basketball assistant returns to role after beating cancer
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Mizzou assistant coach David 'Dickey' Nutt will return to his role as an assistant coach for Tiger men's basketball in the 2025-26 campaign, after being cancer last year.
Nutt joined head coach Dennis Gates' staff in April 2022 as an assistant. After spending a season on the sidelines in Columbia, he was diagnosed with cancer in Feb. 2024 and then declared cancer free of Oct. of the same year. Following his fight, Nutt spent time as Mizzou's assistant to the head coach and senior advisor through the 2024-25 season.
However, he will now return to his full capacity as an assistant.
"We couldn't be happier to welcome Coach Nutt back to an on-court coaching position as a full-time assistant," Gates said in a press release. "His experience and basketball knowledge make him a huge asset to our program and his familiarity with our players and team allows him to make an immediate impact this season. Coach Nutt is a fighter in every sense of the way and after his biggest victory yet, we're thrilled to have him back as an assistant as we compete to win titles on the court."
In the three years that he has spent at Mizzou, Nutt has helped the Tigers to two NCAA Tournament appearances, including the program's first postseason victory in 13 seasons in 2023. This past season, MU earned three Top-5 victories and finished the season sixth in the SEC.
Overall, with Nutt on the sideline, Gates and company have surpassed 20 wins in two seasons, while recording the team's best finish in the Southeastern Conference since joining in 2012.
"I am more excited than ever to return to an on-court position as an assistant and going on my ninth season with Coach Dennis Gates" Nutt said in a press release. "Coach Gates is a tremendous leader and I am honored and humbled not only to work alongside him but our entire basketball staff. I can't wait for the return of our team next month."
Nutt brings quite a bit of experience to the sidelines for Coach Gates, as he's made head-coaching stops at Arkansas State and Southeast Missouri State. In his time with the Red Wolves, he led the team to two Sun Belt Championships and the program's only NCAA Tournament appearance. He was also named the Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year.
He worked with Gates at Florida State and Cleveland State, before coming with him to Columbia.
