Martin hired as new UT basketball coach

photo The University of Tennessee at Knoxville announced the hiring of former Missouri State coach Cuonzo Martin on Sunday night, replacing Bruce Pearl. AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

KNOXVILLE - Tennessee has its new basketball coach.

UT announced the hiring of former Missouri State coach Cuonzo Martin on Sunday night, replacing Bruce Pearl within a week. Martin, 39, went 61-41 in three seasons with the Bears, who won the regular-season Missouri Valley Conference championship this season.

"Cuonzo is among the most promising young coaches in the game, and we are excited about the coaching ability, toughness and energy that he brings to our program," UT athletic director Mike Hamilton said in a statement.

"He has a proven track record of success as a head coach at Missouri State and an assistant at Purdue as well as an outstanding career as a college basketball player. His Missouri State program improved from 11 wins to 26 in just two seasons, and they won the regular season conference championship this year.

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"Cuonzo has an inspiring personal story, and we look forward to his impact on Tennessee basketball. We welcome Cuonzo, his wife Roberta, their sons Joshua and Chase, and their daughter, Addison, to the Tennessee family."

Martin will be officially introduced at a news conference at 2:30 on Monday afternoon. He spent eight years as an assistant at Purdue under Gene Keady and Matt Painter.

More coverage online and in Monday's Times Free Press.

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