Cuonzo Martin New Tennessee Coach
 

Tennessee hires Cuonzo Martin
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Associated Press
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee has hired Missouri State's Cuonzo Martin to take over a Volunteers program facing punishment by the NCAA for recruiting violations.

The 39-year-old Martin takes over for the popular Bruce Pearl, who was fired March 21, a month after being charged with unethical conduct for lying to NCAA investigators.

Martin went 61-41 in three seasons at Missouri State and was chosen this season's Missouri Valley Conference coach of the year. Missouri State finished 26-9 and won the MVC regular-season championship.

Tennessee athletics director Mike Hamilton said Sunday that school officials are excited about Martin's coaching ability, toughness and energy.

A press conference to introduce Martin was scheduled for Monday.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=6264533

Knew he was going somewhere. Missouri state is only going to be able to keep a successful coach for one to two years after they achieve success.

wow sorry bears fans, i wonder if losing 4 starters had a major impact on him leaving

Wow. Right after he said he was happy where he was at.

They all say that.

Uhhhh maybe going from the MVC to the SEC had more to do with it? Not to mention a hefty pay raise.:hmmm:

Yeah. I figure he said that because speculation was that Mizzou was going to talk to him and hadn't.

Yeah, it's just part of the game. A coach really has no choice but to try to squash the rumors... until the rumors become true. Situations change. (quickly, in that line of work.)

I assume UT is paying him a figure Missouri State really can't compete with.

Weird. Had that on my facebook news feed about two hours ago and completely overlooked it.

I would hope so. I doubt MSU could compete with any major conference.

Tennessee folks are not happy with the hire, but Vols fans are dillusional and most of them really liked Pearl so they are not going to be happy with anyone. They didn't want Tubby Smith, Mark Tourgon, Frank Martin ect. They are worse when it comes to football.

MSU just can't compete with the Big Dog's. It's just not possible. Fans sometimes have wild eyed views of the team's lofty status in college basketball. aka....Arkansas thinking they can get Bill Self without a problem.

But hires like Martin is all they can do. Get a hot shot assistant who wants to prove himself at a mid-major and land a power conference job after that.

I don't know much about him, but I hope he fails miserably!

I would've liked him for missouri, but just about as much as the others.

He's good.

I like Cuonzo Martin a lot. It's going to feel bad rooting against him.

Cuonzo played for Gene Keady at Purdue. All those Purdue players are not flashy, but very solid and hard working.

Cuonzo was a great coach and completely turned the MSU program around in his 3-years. Dumbass Vols fans are criticizing the hire, but they don't know what they have.

Cuonzo left for a bigger paycheck but Missouri State was going to up to keep him. Offered a six year exentison worth 700k per year with eccentives that would push it up 1.1 million.

61-41 isn't that great of a record.

Went from last to first in 3 years. That is pretty good.

any ideas on who you guys are trying to get for a replacement

Few names are being thrown around.

Inhouse we got Jon Harris, Kent Williams, and Steve Woodbury.

Outside of Springfield:
Paul Lusk, Purdue assitant (probably the top choice unless he takes the Purdue job)
Donnie Tyndall, Morehead State coach
Joe Dooley, KU assitant
Rodney Perry, Texas assitant
Melvin Watkins, Mizzou assitant
John Pelprey, ex-Arkansas coach
Tommy Amaker, Harvard Coach

That is some of the big names floating around right now.

I would try and get Jeff Capel, yea he failed at OU, but he started building the VCU program

Pearl seems like a perfect choice for MU

Mizzou wants a clean coach... and a coach who'll actually be available next season.

I can't blame Zo for moving on up. I wish he'd hung around, but schools like MSU can't expect anyone to stay when offered jobs as prestigious as TN.

It will be interesting to see .... He is going to a hornets nest. NCAA violations will take some time to get over not to mention, Vols fans wanting a big name, trying to get in on recruiting in the SEC.....

He is a very good coach and a good person but right now he is playing against a stacked deck.

I don't disagree. But honestly, worse case scenario is he makes some extra coin and is able to get right back into an MSU type position should things not work out at Tenn.