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The University of Tennessee at Knoxville announced the hiring of former Missouri State coach Cuonzo Martin on Sunday night, replacing Bruce Pearl. AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein
KNOXVILLE - Tennessee has its new basketball coach.
UT announced the hiring of former Missouri State coach Cuonzo Martin on Sunday night, replacing Bruce Pearl within a week. Martin, 39, went 61-41 in three seasons with the Bears, who won the regular-season Missouri Valley Conference championship this season.
“Cuonzo is among the most promising young coaches in the game, and we are excited about the coaching ability, toughness and energy that he brings to our program,” UT athletic director Mike Hamilton said in a statement.
“He has a proven track record of success as a head coach at Missouri State and an assistant at Purdue as well as an outstanding career as a college basketball player. His Missouri State program improved from 11 wins to 26 in just two seasons, and they won the regular season conference championship this year.
“Cuonzo has an inspiring personal story, and we look forward to his impact on Tennessee basketball. We welcome Cuonzo, his wife Roberta, their sons Joshua and Chase, and their daughter, Addison, to the Tennessee family.”
Martin will be officially introduced at a news conference at 2:30 on Monday afternoon. He spent eight years as an assistant at Purdue under Gene Keady and Matt Painter.
More coverage online and in Monday's Times Free Press.
Patrick Brown has been the University of Tennessee beat writer since January 2011. A native of Memphis, Brown graduated from UT in May of 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism/Electronic Media and worked at the Knoxville News Sentinel for two years on the sports editorial staff and as a freelance contributor. If it’s the NBA, the NFL or SEC football and basketball, he’s probably reading about it or watching it on TV. Contact him ...
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Well Mr. Hamilton, I have followed the UT program and attended a few home games this year, but Mr. "Conzo" can do it without me.
Simply put.........Fire Hamilton
Martin has had ---Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and returned to the United States for treatment of a malignant tumor between his heart and lungs. He received his last treatment on April 20, 1998, and is now in full remission. He has used his courage and experience with the disease to promote awareness of cancer research and support cancer charities. East St. Louis and Cancer survivor.. nothing else he is tough!
Counzo could be the next Anthony Grant or Shaka Smart......OR he could be the next Wade Houston or Dennis Felton......a BIG risk....my question is why does Hamilton feel like he has to hurry ????/ just like the hiring of Dooley, he didn't need to be in such a hurry on that loser....in otherwords you could have hired Dooley or Counzo 3 weeks later and still got them...and try to get a Stoops for football or a Rick Barnes for basketball....why such a hurry ???
Good thing he wasn't hired as the old coach.
Auburns fans were irate when they hired Chizik, i think that turned out ok
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