The Missouri Tigers have found their next Head Coach after a short search and it will be Cleveland State Vikings Head Coach Dennis Gates. This comes shortly after the program fired Head Coach Cuonzo Martin following several disappointing seasons coaching in a much improved SEC. Gates was an assistant coach under Leonard Hamilton at the Florida State Seminoles before he accepted the job to be the Head Coach of the Cleveland State Vikings.
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Men’s basketball head coach Dennis Gates to lead University of Missouri program
? – https://t.co/11tZn9eGmC@csu_basketball | #GoVikes pic.twitter.com/FOvmZ4A3bO
— Cleveland State Athletics (@CSU_Athletics) March 22, 2022
In three seasons with the Cleveland State Vikings Dennis Gates led the program to an overall record of 50-40 and a conference record of 38-21. He also coached them to two Horizon League regular season championships and one Horizon League Tournament Championship. Gates also made the NCAA Tournament and the NIT Tournament once each where the Vikings got eliminated in the first round each time. While his first head coaching job was a short tenure it was highlighted by a lot of success. Winning games is exactly what the Missouri Tigers are looking for in their next Head Coach.
“The University of Missouri has got not only a great coach, but a great person as well.” pic.twitter.com/MmCR2YB7Hf
— Mizzou Hoops (@MizzouHoops) March 22, 2022
The SEC has seen a massive overhaul with the programs’ coaching staffs this offseason and Missouri is a part of that. Dennis Gates will attempt to bring in a new culture and winning ways into the Missouri Tigers program. While the Missouri Tigers have their new Head Coach, the Cleveland State Vikings will be searching for a new Head Coach after being just three seasons removed from hiring Gates.
