Missouri Basketball: 7 candidates to replace Cuonzo Martin as head coach

Kim English

Do you remember in the final paragraph of the intro slide when Missouri’s impressive showing in 2012 was mentioned? Keep that in mind. It’s important for big openings at power conference schools that you consider people familiar with the program. There are former assistants or coaches out there who could show interest in returning to the Tigers, but why not the former player who’s been a solid coach?

English was one of the stars on that 2012 Missouri squad and was drafted in the 2nd Round of the NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons months later. After a brief playing career, he’s spent time on the coaching staffs at Tulsa, Colorado, and Tennessee, giving him some familiarity with the SEC. This past year was his first as a head coach, leading George Mason to a 14-15 mark that included road wins over Georgia and Maryland.

English checks the loyalty boxes and could be the name that many alums are interested in seeing. On the other hand, English just doesn’t have the experience for an SEC head coaching job. If Missouri is looking for another head coach in four or five years, maybe English would be the best fit, but right now it seems too quick to bring him home to Columbia.