Mike Anderson: 10 Potential Candidates To Be the Missouri Tigers' New Man
During his five-year tenure as the head basketball coach at Mizzou, Mike Anderson built a foundation that would make his mentor, Nolan Richardson, proud. He was a strong local and national recruiter, graduated more than 80 percent of his players and made three straight NCAA Tournaments—including a 31-7 record and an Elite Eight appearance in 2009.
Unfortunately for my home-school Tigers, March 23, 2011 became a dark day.
Missouri Athletic Director Mike Alden officially confirmed that Anderson would resign from his position at Missouri in order to take the same position at the University of Arkansas—a school that shares a long and rich history with him.
In his hour-long press conference, Alden stated one very important thing: The basis on which coaching prospects are going to be evaluated will be tedious and rigorous.
He stated characteristics such as academics, recruiting, mentoring, work ethic, public representation and most importantly, a coach that has the desire to be here. Strictly meaning, Mizzou will not hire anyone looking to use the program as a stepping stone to a bigger position, or shot at a "dream job"—much like Anderson did.
With nothing but openness across the horizon of Mizzou basketball, I am here to take a look at 10 potential head coaching candidates for the University of Missouri.
Shaka Smart
1 of 11
Current Position: Head Coach, Virginia Commonwealth
Past Position(s): Assistant Coach: Akron, Clemson and Florida
About Smart:
At age 33, Shaka Smart has become college basketball's rising star. He's the name that everyone is talking about, and for good reason. In only his second year as VCU head basketball coach, Smart has his Rams locked into the Sweet 16 for the first time in school history. Coach Smart and the VCU Rams are widely known for their specific style of play.
Their self-proclaimed "havoc" brand of basketball is claimed to have received its name because it causes havoc to the other team. It's actually quite simple. Defensively, they attack the ball-handler using traps and various presses, while offensively, they attack the defensive glass and then push the ball up the floor in the effort to beat their opponent up the floor. It's quite a sight to see when it's clicking on all cylinders.
For Missouri:
Smart brings a whole new dynamic to the playing field. His numeric youth, yet abundant maturity, earns him more than just the respect of his players. His energetic and overall positive demeanor will pay dividends along the recruiting trail, on the court and in the locker room. It also works out rather nicely that the VCU's "havoc" style closely mimics that of the "Fastest 40 Minutes in Basketball" brand of ball that is played by Missouri.
The Tigers use their superior conditioning to physically wear out their opponents, while creating and capitalizing on turnovers in the process. Smart and the University of Missouri have the potential to produce some great moments in the future, if he is hired.
Dave Rose
2 of 11
Current Position: Head Coach, Brigham Young University
Past Position(s): Assistant Coach, Brigham Young University
About Rose:
When Dave Rose was hired to BYU in 2005, he inherited a 9-21 team and turned that team into a 20-9 team the following season. Ever since that time, Rose has had his Cougars contending for the Mountain West title every year, while being perennial NCAA Tournament participants.
This season, the Cougars are secure in holding onto one of the final 16 spots in the tournament, marking it the school's first Sweet Sixteen appearance since 1981. He is the man responsible for discovering and unleashing the pure talent of Jimmer Fredette, so it is clear this coach has definite skill in getting the most out of his players.
For Missouri:
Rose is a long-shot sleeper on this list. His name hasn't been brought up as being a potential candidate for any of the nation's open vacancies. But with Mizzou trying to keep their future coach relatively mild-mannered, Rose seems like a great fit. He fits many of the aforementioned characteristics such as solid recruiting, strong role model and willingness to become the face of a program. With Jimmer Fredette headed to the NBA, this may be a great opportunity for an accomplished coach such as Rose to expand his resume and dabble in the job market of Power-Six conferences.
Cuonzo Martin
3 of 11
Current Position: Head Coach, Missouri State
Past Position(s): Assistant Coach, Purdue
About Martin:
Yes, that's right, another branch off of the old Gene Kaedy coaching tree. Coach Cuonzo Martin is probably the lesser known name compared to the other coaches mentioned. This in no way makes Martin an inferior coach, however. After taking over the reigns at Missouri St. in 2008, Martin struggled to find his footing. It was his ability to turn the program a complete 180 degrees in just one year that has him as a candidate on this list. In just his third year in Springfield, Coach Martin and his Bears captured the Missouri Valley Conference regular season title.
For Missouri:
There is probably only one true concern about potentially hiring Martin. Mike Alden needs to figure out if Martin is planning on using this opportunity for national recognition to potentially move on to a "dream job" at, say, Purdue. On the other hand, after witnessing the progress Missouri State has made with him in the last three years, one can only imagine the potential he could have with the resources of Missouri.
One more important thing to touch on with Martin is that his roots will play a major role in his success as a recruiter. He hails from East Saint Louis, IL, an area that regularly sees hard times, yet is notorious for producing some of the purest basketball talent in the Midwest.
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Chris Mooney
4 of 11
Current Position: Head Coach, Richmond
Past Position(s): Head Coach, Air Force
About Mooney:
Chris Mooney is a fine young coach. Since his arrival at Richmond in 2005, he has slowly changed the perception of the program from lowly bottom-feeders to a force to be reckoned with. He experienced his first NCAA Tournament with the Spiders in 2010 and again this year in 2011. In fact, the Spiders are still alive as the field has been cut to 16. Mooney's success in recruiting has shone brightly in the past few years with players such as Kevin Anderson and Justin Harper.
For Missouri:
As previously stated, Mooney has proved that he has the ability to turn a program around. I do not foresee Mizzou ever producing as poorly as Richmond did when Mooney took over, but all you can do is think positively. He's a fine recruiter, especially on the East Coast. He's a product of Princeton basketball, so if Mizzou is looking to go in the direction of the half-court, screen-and-slash offense, than Mooney is a fine candidate for the job.
Buzz Williams
5 of 11
Current Position: Head Coach, Marquette
Past Position(s): Assistant Coach: Colorado State, Texas A&M. Head Coach, New Orleans
About Williams:
Buzz Williams is the third-year head coach of the Marquette Golden Eagles. He replaced Tom Crean after Crean took the coaching job at Indiana, and Williams hasn't lost a single step. In his three years as head coach at Marquette, he's produced a winning record in the conference three times and clinched three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.
Most notably, their current Sweet 16 run is as an 11-seed in this year's tournament. Williams is known as a very outspoken and emotional coach. He's the first to cheer after a win, yet also the first to reprimand after a loss. His job this year was nothing short of magnificent.
For Missouri:
Coach Williams can come into Columbia and instantly make an impact. He's one of those guys that likes to leave his mark on his work, as he's shown with Marquette. There is one specific talent that Williams can bring to the table, and that is his eye for junior college prospects. He's become quite successful over the past two years recruiting and playing upwards of six junior college transfers on his roster. He teaches scrappy defense, much like the defense currently showcased with the Tigers, so that could bode well in terms of player transitioning.
Anthony Grant
6 of 11
Current Position: Head Coach, Alabama
Past Position(s): Assistant Coach: Marshall, Florida. Head Coach, Virginia Commonwealth
About Grant:
Anthony Grant is a direct disciple of Florida head coach Billy Donovan. He spent three years as the head coach at Virginia Commonwealth until he accepted an offer to be the leader at Alabama. He's pulled an upset in the NCAA Tournament, and he also won the CAA three times in three years. Grant has been known to be a very player-oriented and emotional coach during games. While at VCU two of his recruits went on to be first-round NBA Draft picks—a tribute to Grant's ability to develop his players.
For Mizzou:
Off the top of the head, it doesn't necessarily make sense that Grant would leave Alabama for Mizzou. Alabama is on the rise, and Mizzou will ultimately struggle a few years, so the question of "Why is Grant's name in the mix?" arises.
Well, because he is very gifted at what he does. He is a polished recruiter of big men and loves to play a style where he trusts his point guard. If Grant can prove that he can have the patience to rebuild this Tiger program, then he has to get a serious nod from AD Mike Alden.
Fran Fraschilla
7 of 11
Current Position: ESPN Broadcast Analyst
Past Position(s): Head Coach: Manhattan, St. John's and New Mexico
About Fraschilla:
To begin, it's been almost nine years since he's coached a game in Division-1 basketball. But still, that should not take away from the knowledge and understanding Fraschilla has shown through his coaching and broadcasting. He's led both Manhattan and St. John's to the NCAA Tournament, and aside from being a head coach, Fraschilla has also held assistant coaching jobs under Rick Barnes at Providence and Texas. Finally, a year ago, he turned down the head coaching job at Rutgers, possibly looking to make his return in a setting with more room for growth.
For Missouri:
Fraschilla is a well-known name around college basketball. He has the iconic stature that could lure in the attention of a potential recruit into showing more interest in the program. Let's face it—he spends his days analyzing and commentating Big 12 basketball for ESPN, and when he goes home, he evaluates overseas talent to come and play in the states. The only issue that would halt any motion would be the thought that Fraschilla is one too many years removed from the sidelines. Other than that, since he's shown interest, they should give him a look.
Matt Painter
8 of 11
Current Position: Head Coach, Purdue
Past Position(s): Assistant Coach: Eastern Illinois, Southern Illinois, and Purdue. Head Coach, Southern Illinois
About Painter:
Matt Painter has been the head basketball coach in West Lafayette since 2005, and before that, he spent one year with Southern Illinois, in which he took them to the NCAA Tournament. The Purdue head coach is one of five Division One head coaches to come from the Gene Kaedy coaching tree.
Interestingly, Painter actually played under Kaedy from 1989-1993. Since struggling in his first year, Painter has lead Purdue to five straight tournaments, adding two conference championships along the way. His game plan is simple: be precise. Painter generals one of the nation's stoutest half-court defenses, along with signaling one of the Big Ten's most technical offenses.
For Missouri:
Some folks are calling for a change in Mizzou's style of play, calling for more slower tempo, half-court sets. Well, if it is true that the players are no longer buying into the system, then Painter is the perfect man to switch things up in Tiger country. Unfortunately, the acquisition of Painter is a bit far fetched. He is an alum of Purdue and studied under Purdue's greatest coach.
The only bargaining chip the Tigers have is money. They can attempt to lure Painter away by assuring him a raise on the $1.3 million he makes a year, which is close to $1 million less than offered to Mike Anderson. Although the chances bode slim-to-none, the chase for a coach like Painter could affect the Tigers positively in other ways.
Brad Stevens
9 of 11
Current Position: Head Coach, Butler
Past Position(s): Assistant Coach, Butler
About Stevens:
Brad Stevens started his journey through the Bulldog ranks as a volunteer at the basketball offices. Slowly, he had begun to move up until he reached the title "assistant coach" After then-head coach Todd Lickliter resigned, the job became Stevens'. Let's just say he hasn't disappointed.
In his first four seasons as Butler's head coach, he has put up unbridled numbers, accumulating a 114-24 career record, including a trip to the NCAA National Championship game and currently a spot in this year's NCAA Sweet 16. This season may arguably be his finest at Butler because of assorted injuries and the loss of scorer Gordan Hayward to the NBA. Stevens prides his team on their tenacity and physical toughness in the paint. It's not often you see a top-10 caliber coach in the Horizon League.
For Missouri:
Stevens will pay dividends at whatever school hires him. Heck, he'll just keep improving his own. It may be premature, seeing as he's only 34 years old, but Stevens is paving his way to potentially being one of the all-time greats. Missouri could absolutely thrive off of a household name like Stevens.
He'll demand the respect of his players and in an instant receive it; he'll force his players to give 110 percent. Mizzou should—and will—make a push for this guy, but ultimately get rejected. Let's face it, Stevens may never leave Butler because at this rate, he's on his way to becoming Gonzaga 2.0 of the midwest.
Bruce Pearl
10 of 11
Current Position: None
Past Position(s): Head Coach: Tennessee, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Southern Indiana
About Pearl:
Pearl is a diamond...surrounded by a lot of rough. Pearl may receive more negative press than any other coach in the country, and, well, frankly it's warranted. Basically, Pearl talked to certain recruits too often and hosted them at his home, which is illegal. Well, the situation escalated when Bruce tried to lie about it to cover it. This lie is ultimately what cost him his job.
The man made one bad mistake, and it shouldn't discredit his ability to lead. Pearl has gone dancing eight times in 10 attempts, taken two different D-1 schools to the Sweet Sixteen and won a D-II National Championship. There is no denying the fact that the man is a phenomenal coach.
For Missouri:
Somebody will take another chance on this guy (i.e. Calvin Sampson). It's just Pearl's responsibility to prove to the NCAA, his school and himself that he will not make a mistake this time. It would be awe-strikingly easy to just say, "Hey, sign Bruce Pearl!!!" and boom, it's done. However, Mizzou has a reputation to preserve, due to the incidents that occurred back in the Quin Snyder era, circa 2004.
Hypothetically, let's just say Pearl comes through sanction-free, and if the Tigers do take a shot on him—which in my humble opinion, they should—your program instantly becomes top-tier in the conference. A coach like Pearl allows you to recruit a wider range of national talent, and it instantly boosts ticket sales and game attendance, which leads to national television rights and longer spots on Sportscenter, etc. This list can go on forever.
Mike Anderson was a great coach and did so much for the Missouri Tigers, but the hiring of a Pearl improves your program tenfold. He is a game changer, it's as simple as that.
If this program could somehow couple the hiring of Bruce Pearl with QB Blaine Gabbert getting drafted top-five come April's NFL Draft, Missouri could quite possibly boost themselves to the pinnacle of Big 12 athletics.
Categorizing the Potential Hires
11 of 11
Safest - Brad Stevens
Riskiest - Bruce Pearl
Least-Realistic - Matt Painter
Smartest - Shaka Smart
"Dumbest" - Fran Fraschilla
Most Intriguing - Anthony Grant
Most Likely To Happen - Cuonzo Martin
What I Want to See as a Fan - Bruce Pearl
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