It's Official: Anderson is Out
Kim Anderson is out as Mizzou's head basketball coach. Anderson was asked to step down by Director of Athletics Jim Sterk. The move was announced Sunday afternoon in a release from the University. Anderson will coach the Tigers in this week's SEC Tournament in Nashville.
“Missouri is a special institution to my family and I, and I am grateful for having had the opportunity to serve as the head coach at my alma mater,” Anderson said in the release “While we have faced significant challenges over the last three years and been unable to achieve the on-court results everyone would have liked, I do believe we have been able to stabilize the program while watching our players become responsible young men on and off the court.”
Anderson was Missouri’s coach for three seasons. He finished with a record of 26-67 (.277) in three seasons. The Tigers were 8-46 in SEC play over those three years, finishing last all three seasons
The last game was a 89-78 loss to Auburn on Saturday. It was Missouri's 35th consecutive road loss. The Tigers never won a true road game under Anderson.
“This decision has been very difficult for me personally because of the tremendous respect I have for Kim,” Director of Athletics Jim Sterk said. “I know how hard he and his staff have worked to turn the program around over the last three years, however, the lack of on-court success has resulted in a significant drop in interest surrounding our program, and we could not afford for that to continue another year.
“Kim has represented our program with character, integrity and class while dedicating himself to developing our student-athletes on and off the basketball court, and we are appreciative of his efforts and dedication to Mizzou and the Columbia community,. Kim will always be a Tiger, and all of us are grateful for his contributions to our University as a student-athlete, assistant coach and head coach.”
The Tigers now embark upon the search for a new basketball coach for the third time in seven years and the fifth time in the last two decades. It is Sterk’s first major hire at Mizzou.
“Missouri has a rich men’s basketball tradition and the resources necessary to compete at the highest level,” Sterk said in the statement. “We expect to compete for Southeastern Conference championships, consistently play in the postseason and continue to represent Mizzou the right way on and off the court.
“A national search will begin immediately to identify and recruit the very best person to lead Mizzou Basketball into the future and we will utilize the services of a search consultant to assist in the identification and evaluation of candidates who are capable of returning our program to national prominence."
Sterk said he would have no further public comment until Missouri had a new coach.
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