Martin back in the SEC again
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Firstyear University of Missouri athletic director Jim Sterk got his man.
Sterk targeted California men’s basketball coach Cuonzo Martin from the outset after announcing March 5 that Kim Anderson would not return for the 2017-18 season, multiple sources told The Star.
Mizzou announced Wednesday that Martin, who resigned from Cal earlier in the day, would be the 19th full-time coach in men’s hoops history. ESPN college basketball reporter Jeff Goodman was the first to report the Tigers offered Martin the position and a deal was in place.
Sources with knowledge of the search said Missouri never met with Indiana coach Tom Crean and never had more than passing interest.
Martin, 45, is an East St. Louis, Ill., native and previously coached at Missouri State (200811) and Tennessee (2011-14).
His Golden Bears finished 21-13 this season. Seeded No. 1 for the National Invitation Tournament but missing their two leading scorers for the season because of injury, they were upset 73-66 by California State-Bakersfield in the first round Tuesday night.
Martin finished 62-39, including a 28-24 record in the Pac-12, in three seasons at Cal.
During nine seasons as a Division I coach, Martin boasts a 186-121 record with seven postseason appearances, including two NCAA tournament berths.
In three seasons at Missouri State, Martin posted a 61-41 record, including a CIT championship in 2010 and a Missouri Valley Conference championship in 2011.
He then moved on Tennessee, replacing the exceedingly popular Bruce Pearl after Pearl was fired amid an NCAA investigation. Martin, who has a reputation as a terrific defensive mind, won at least 19 games in all three seasons with the Volunteers, guiding the program to the Sweet 16 in 2014 after consecutive NIT appearances.
He finished 63-41 with a 32-20 record in the Southeastern Conference but was never embraced by Tennessee’s fans, who still pined for Pearl, and left for Cal after three seasons.
The Bears earned a No. 4 seed for the 2016 NCAA tournament, but an injury-depleted squad was upset in the first round by Hawaii.
Martin signed a contract extension with Cal through 2020-21 in October worth at least $1.84 million per season. His original contract, which wasn’t signed until June 2016, included a $1.1 million buyout if he leaves before April 14.
Despite tough admissions standards at Cal, he signed two five-star prospects and two fourstar prospects in three seasons, including Jaylen Brown and Rabb in 2015. He also landed Robert Hubbs III, a five-star talent, at Tennessee along with Jarnell Stokes and Armani Moore.