Missouri keeps coach Mike Anderson
Anderson turns down larger offers from Georgia and Memphis.
Published April 2, 2009
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Missouri basketball coach Mike Anderson agreed to a new seven-year contract Wednesday worth a reported $1.6 million annually plus incentives. Anderson turned down higher offers from schools such as Georgia and decided not to pursue a vacancy at Memphis.
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Despite the Memphis coaching job officially opening up with John Calipari going to Kentucky, Missouri coach Mike Anderson will be staying in Columbia.
A PowerMizzou.com report said Anderson has agreed to a base salary of $1.6 million per year plus incentives that could take him to $2.28 million annually. It goes on to say that Anderson rejected Georgia's $2.3 million offer.
Athletics department spokesman Dave Reiter confirmed the contract Tuesday evening, saying Anderson and Missouri have agreed in principle to a seven-year deal that aims to keep Anderson on the Mizzou Arena sideline through the 2015-16 season.
"We are excited Coach Anderson is going to be at the University of Missouri for a long time," MU Athletic Director Mike Alden said in a news release. "He's done a tremendous job rebuilding our basketball tradition and is poised to lead our program to new heights in the coming years."
Although the agreement is in place, the financial details will not be confirmed until the contract has been fully completed.
In three seasons, Anderson is 65-34 at Missouri, bringing his career record to 154-76. Anderson led this year's team to the Elite Eight, tying the program's best finish. Missouri's 31-win total this season was a school record. Former coach Quin Snyder also led the Tigers to the Elite Eight in 2002, but later resigned. Snyder made $1.015 million per year, according to The Associated Press.
For his efforts, Anderson was named a finalist for Coach of the Year honors.
Anderson reportedly showed no interest in the vacancy at Memphis, the Conference USA powerhouse that Missouri defeated in the NCAA Tournament last week. Anderson's wife, Marcheita, hails from Memphis.
The coaching vacancy at Georgia would have allowed Anderson to return the Southeastern Conference, where he was an assistant coach at Arkansas during the Razorbacks' championship run under head coach Nolan Richardson. Georgia Athletic Director Damon Evans was unavailable for comment Tuesday afternoon.
-- Sports Editor Lenny Goldman contributed to this report
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