SEC Basketball: Ranking all 14 head coaches for 2019-20 season

By Joey Loose | Aug 30, 2019

NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 13: Head coach John Calipari (R) of the Kentucky Wildcats is congratulated by head coach Bruce Pearl of the Tennessee Volunteers after Kentucky won 74-45 during the semirfinals of the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at the Bridgestone Arena on March 13, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

3 of 15

COLUMBIA, MISSOURI – JANUARY 26: Head coach Cuonzo Martin of the Missouri Tigers reacts from the bench during the game against the LSU Tigers at Mizzou Arena on January 26, 2019 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

13. Cuonzo Martin (Missouri)

We aren’t exactly in the glory days for this Tigers program. Missouri has finished under .500 in four of the last five seasons and have struggled to compete since joining the SEC. There have been a couple of Elite Eights since the turn of the century, but Martin hasn’t exactly brought similar results. He’s recruited at a high level, but why haven’t the results been there on the court?

After starring at the high school level in Illinois, Martin played for Gene Keady at Purdue. After a very brief playing career, including appearing in just 7 NBA games, Martin’s coaching career began in 1999 at a high school near his alma mater. By 2000, Keady offered him a spot on his coaching staff, where he’d stay until 2008, serving the last three years under Matt Painter. In the last decade, Martin’s head coaching career has seen him bouncing around from Missouri State to Tennessee to California, spending three years at each place.

Martin led the Volunteers to a Sweet Sixteen in 2014 and briefly made Cal a viable program, but joined Missouri in 2017. He immediately brought Michael Porter to campus, though injuries derailed much of that season, though his Tigers did finish 20-13 and fell in the first round of the Tournament. Last year’s effort (15-17) was unsatisfactory and Martin will need to reload quickly before the Tigers move on again.

Martin is coaching in the state of Missouri again, having won a CIT title and MVC coach of the year back at Missouri State. He’s built solid, winning teams at each stop and this upcoming year should represent a step forward for the Tigers. While last year’s struggles weigh on this, it’s impressive that a coach with Martin’s resume is ranked no higher in a conference full of talented head coaches.

Home/SEC