Mizzou Basketball: Best head coaches of all-time for Missouri

BEST HEAD COACHES OF ALL-TIME FOR MU – NUMBER 3: MIKE ANDERSON

Mizzou Basketball Head Coach from 2006-2011

The third best coach the Tigers have had is Mike Anderson, who was hired after Quin Snyder resigned. Before taking the job at Missouri, Anderson spent time as an assistant coach at Tulsa (where he played college hoops) and at Arkansas.

Anderson’s first big head coaching job was at UAB, where he led the Dragons to three NCAA Tournament appearances. The success he had at UAB got Power Five programs’ attention and he eventually joined the Tigers in 2006.

The first two seasons in Columbia didn’t result in tournament appearances, but Anderson would turn the program around in his third year. That 2008-2009 season saw MU go 31-7 and win the Big 12 Conference tournament.

While that season was fun, it ended in the Elite Eight. Anderson never matched that success again, but his final two seasons in Columbia did see Mizzou make it to the tournament, though they never got past the second round.

In March 2011, Anderson became a hot coaching candidate for Arkansas, a school where he had previously served as an assistant. Some MU fans were angry with Anderson, especially because he had assured the fan base he’d be remaining in Columbia and hoped to retire there. He had compiled a 168-111 record during his five years as the MU head coach.

Mike Anderson probably wasn’t the happiest when the Tigers joined the SEC and his Razorbacks had to play them every year, but hopefully both sides have moved on. Anderson was one of Missouri’s best head coaches.