OFFICIAL: Former Mizzou basketball coach set to return to Missouri State
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KMIZ)
A former Mizzou Men's Basketball coach has landed his next head coaching job in some familiar territory. Missouri State Athletics announced on Wednesday that Cuonzo Martin is officially returning to lead its men's basketball program.
The Bears agreed with Martin on a five-year contract with a base salary of $600,000 that runs through the 2028-29 season.
"Zo is an experienced coach, who has consistently won at the Division I level," Missouri State Athletics Director Kyle Moats said in a press release. "One of the things that stands out about him is that he really wants to be at Missouri State. He is respected both nationally and here in our community, and he brings instant credibility to our program. His track record with our donors, our fans and our students will make this an easy transition. In my opinion, there was not a better coach out there to lead our young men."
Martin's very first head coaching stop of his career was at Missouri State. He coached the Bears from 2008-2011, and under his leadership, the program won its first-ever Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) regular season title. In 2011, Martin also became the program's first coach to be named MVC Coach of the Year.
Most recently, Martin led the Mizzou Men's Basketball program from 2017-2022, guiding the Tigers to two NCAA Tournament appearances and a 78-77 overall record in five seasons.
In his coaching career, Martin owns a 264-198 record over 14 seasons at Mizzou, California, Tennessee and MSU.
Martin will be re-introduced as Missouri State's head coach on Monday, April 1 at 1 p.m. in the Prime Overtime Club at Great Southern Bank Arena in Springfield.
