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Report: Cuonzo Martin set to be the new head coach of the Missouri Tigers

By Rees Woodcock

March 11, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; California Golden Bears head coach Cuonzo Martin (left) talks with guard Tyrone Wallace (3) against the Utah Utes during the first half in the semifinals of the Pac-12 Conference tournament at MGM Grand Garden Arena. The Utes defeated the Golden Bears 82-78. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
March 11, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; California Golden Bears head coach Cuonzo Martin (left) talks with guard Tyrone Wallace (3) against the Utah Utes during the first half in the semifinals of the Pac-12 Conference tournament at MGM Grand Garden Arena. The Utes defeated the Golden Bears 82-78. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Missouri basketball team is about to introduce a new head coach for the program.

It was announced that California Bears basketball head coach Cuonzo Martin has resigned from his position with the team and is in the middle of discussions to become the next head coach of the Missouri Tigers.

All the details of his contract have not been released, but the news was first broken by ESPN’s Jeff Goodman, who says they are currently working on a deal that would land Martin in Missouri for the next seven years.

Martin has been the talk of the head coaching world for much of the last month. He has been rumored for many different jobs including Missouri and Illinois, who both fired their underperforming head coaches.

The hire by Missouri brings both playing and coaching experience to the table. Martin played four years at Purdue University where he averaged 13.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2 assists per game. He was then drafted into the NBA where he spent a few seasons with the Vancouver Grizzlies and the Milwaukee Bucks.

Martin started his head coaching experience with the Missouri State Bears in 2008. He won the CIT tournament in 2010, and the Bears were the Missouri Valley Conference champs in 2011. This was good enough for him to parlay that position into the head coaching role for the Tennessee Volunteers.

With Tennessee, Martin got the program back to the NCAA tournament in his third season. He made it all the way to the Sweet 16 that season. After that nice run, Martin decided it was time to move on and he accepted the job with Cal.

In his second year, Cal made the NCAA tournament but was upset in the first round. He then failed to make it back to the tournament this year and was a first-round bust in the NIT.

Overall, this is a good hire for Missouri. They have failed to make the NCAA tournament four years in a row and they hit rock bottom after Frank Haith left the program. This team needs a shot in the arm, and I think Martin will do that.

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Martin is a good recruiter who can get players to come play at Missouri. That is a fertile ground for recruiting and I think he will be able to get big-time players there immediately. It will be interesting to see how quick Missouri can rise from the dead.