Ua Hires Mike Anderson As Head Basketball Coach

Business

by Talk Business ([email protected]) March 22, 2011 7:00 pm 114 views 

Just 10 days after John Pelphrey’s dismissal, the University of Arkansas has announced a replacement for its head men’s basketball coach, former Nolan Richardson assistant and University of Missouri coach Mike Anderson.

UA Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Jeff Long made the announcement on Wednesday:

In nine seasons as a collegiate head coach at the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) and most recently at the University of Missouri, Anderson has amassed a career record of 200-98, earning 20 wins in a season seven times and leading his teams to the NCAA Tournament in six of his nine seasons as a head coach.

“We are extremely excited to welcome home Mike Anderson to the University of Arkansas as our new head men’s basketball coach,” Long said. “Mike is one of the outstanding head coaches in college basketball. His teams play an exciting brand of basketball that has already proven successful at both UAB and Missouri.

“Under Mike’s leadership, I am confident the Razorbacks will be successful in the future on and off the court. 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,” Long added.

“It is a tremendous honor to be named the head men’s basketball coach at the University of Arkansas,” Anderson said. “I want to thank Chancellor (Dave) Gearhart and Athletic Director Jeff Long for this opportunity to lead the Razorback Basketball program. I am extremely excited to once again be a part of this special University and Razorback Athletics. With the continued passionate support of all Razorback fans, I am confident that we will have the opportunity to succeed on and off the court and continue to build on the University of Arkansas’ championship tradition.”

Anderson’s record after his five-year stint at Missouri was a combined 111-56 (.665) and included 13 wins over ranked opponents, four NCAA Tournament victories and a 75-13 record at home.