On Monday, Missouri announced that Kim Anderson would be their new head basketball coach.

Anderson, who led Central Missouri to the Division II national championship, used to play for Missouri and was named the Big Eight player of the year in 1977. He also served as the assistant coach for the team for eleven years.

This will make Anderson’s first Division 1 coaching job. He will be replacing Frank Haith, who took a coaching job in Tulsa.

“I am honored and humbled to have the opportunity to return to Mizzou and lead a program that our family is so vested in,” Anderson said in a statement. “When we took over in Warrensburg 12 years ago, we faced an uphill battle.”

“We had support, we had a winning history and great campus leadership, but the program had lost its identity,” Anderson continued. “I see that same opportunity here at Missouri. We have great leadership with Dr. Loftin and Mike Alden, and I know we have a passionate fan base. We have a lot of work ahead of us and that work starts today, but as a Missourian I embrace this challenge and look forward to bringing championship basketball back to Norm Stewart Court and Mizzou Arena.”

Although the announcement was made on Monday, Anderson will officially be introduced as head coach today.

“We are pleased and excited to have Kim Anderson leading our program,” Mike Alden, the athletic director, said. “He’s a man of great character, integrity and respect. He has demonstrated the ability to mentor young men on and off the court, academically and socially.”

“He’s a proven winner on all levels, and he’s built tremendous relationships around the country in the basketball community, which assists greatly with recruiting and other important aspects for a program,” Alden explained. “Lastly, the fact that he’s a Missouri Tiger at heart is important, he is committed to Mizzou and has a passion to build a program of which all Tiger fans will be proud.”

Anderson has spent the last 12 seasons as the coach of Central Missouri, taking his team to seven Division II NCAA tournaments, and going 30-5 this season.

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