FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Mike Anderson is returning to Arkansas to become the Razorbacks’ basketball coach.
The school confirmed the move Wednesday night.
Anderson leaves Missouri after five seasons to return to the school where he was an assistant to Nolan Richardson for 17 seasons. Anderson replaces John Pelphrey, who was fired March 13.
“Under Mike’s leadership, I am confident the Razorbacks will be successful in the future on and off the court,” Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long said. “The decision to hire Mike Anderson as head coach is based on my firm belief that he is the right person to lead the Razorback program today and in the years to come.”
Anderson’s departure is certain to anger Missouri fans who just six days earlier were assured by the Tigers coach that “I’m excited about what’s taking place at Missouri, and I plan on being at Missouri.”
But the hard feelings felt by Missouri fans over Anderson’s departure were nowhere to be found inside Mizzou Arena at a news conference Wednesday night. Less than two hours after a team meeting with Anderson, athletic director Mike Alden repeatedly praised the coach for restoring the national success of a program that rose to prominence under longtime coach Norm Stewart but faltered under Anderson’s predecessor, Quin Snyder.
“We’ve been blessed that he has been with us for the past five years,” Alden said at a hastily arranged news conference. “We wish him nothing but the best.”
Patton replaced.
Longtime Michigan State assistant Mark Montgomery is the new head coach at Northern Illinois.
Montgomery succeeds former Colorado coach Ricardo Patton, who went 35-83 over four seasons with the Huskies.
Footnotes.
Tulsa coach Doug Wojcik said he has not been contacted by Georgia Tech and called reports he will be interviewed by the school “hilarious.”
• Tennessee Tech coach Mike Sutton announced his retirement after nine seasons with the Golden Eagles. Associate head coach Steve Payne will succeed him.
• Louisiana Tech fired coach Kerry Rupp after a last-place finish in the Western Athletic Conference.
The Associated Press
