Former Tennessee basketball coach Cuonzo Martin is nearing a return to college coaching.
Missouri State and Martin are working on a deal to make the 52-year old East St. Louis native the school’s newest head coach, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. It’s a return to Missouri State for Martin who previously spent three years in Springfield before leaving the Bears to become Tennessee’s head coach.
*The hire is official now
Join us in welcoming our new Head Coach, Cuonzo Martin! pic.twitter.com/6D6KWPDM72
— Missouri State Basketball (@MoStateMBB) March 27, 2024
In three years at Tennessee, Martin led the Vols to the NCAA Tournament once where they made a run from the First Four to the Sweet 16.
Martin left Tennessee after the Sweet 16 run to become the head coach at Cal. In three seasons at Cal, the Bears once made the NCAA Tournament but Hawaii upset Cal in the first round of the tournament.
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The defensive minded head coach left Cal to become Missouri’s head coach ahead of the 2017-18 season. In five seasons at Missouri, Martin twice led the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament where they lost in the first round of the tournament each time.
In his previous three seasons at Missouri State, Martin’s teams combined for a 61-41 record and won the Missouri Valley Conference Regular Season title once.
Martin’s teams are known for their extreme toughness and stout defense but have consistently struggled on the offense end throughout his career.
Missouri State has been a middle of the pack team in an improving MVC since Martin left Springfield 14 years ago. Previous head coach Dana Ford posted a 106-82 (64-48 MVC) record in six seasons as the Bears’ head coach.
