Columbia, Mo. ? The University of Missouri is completing an agreement with Alabama-Birmingham coach Mike Anderson to be its next basketball coach, according to media reports.
All citing unnamed sources, the Columbia Daily Tribune, The Kansas City Star, ESPN.com and STLToday.com, the Web site of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, all reported Saturday that Anderson would be hired to replace former coach Quin Snyder, who resigned in February.
Calls from the Associated Press to athletic director Mike Alden and the sports-information office were not returned Saturday.
Anderson, 46, was on campus Saturday to meet with Alden and MU Chancellor Brady Deaton, and an announcement could come as early as today, according to the reports. Contract details still were being worked out Saturday.
Missouri received permission to speak with Anderson earlier in the week. Missouri also asked for permission to speak with Iowa coach Steve Alford, but Alford said he had no immediate plans to interview for other coaching jobs.
Anderson would be the first permanent black head coach in a major sport at Missouri. Interim coach Melvin Watkins replaced Snyder after his resignation.
Anderson is a former assistant to Nolan Richardson at Arkansas and played for Richardson at Tulsa.
As head coach at UAB for four years, Anderson has an 89-41 record with three NCAA Tournament appearances. UAB was 24-9 this season and lost to Kentucky, 69-64, in the first round of the tournament.
Sources said the announcement of Anderson’s hiring could be as late as Monday, but today was the target.
Anderson was not available for comment Saturday.
In Friday’s editions of The Birmingham News, however, Anderson discussed how he frequently was linked to job openings.
“The flattering part of it is it seems like every year it takes place,” Anderson said. “That means our program is really progressing every year. To me, that’s what it’s all about. I’m the head coach here, and that’s what I’m dealing with right now.”
He spoke openly about Missouri’s interest in him.
“You’ve got to remember, that’s just the nature of the business,” Anderson said. “You have guys whose names come up all the time. Some of them put their names up there. I think for us it’s just a reflection of the program and what we’re doing.”
Anderson made $600,000 a year at UAB with an extra $175,000 in possible compensation.
Anderson’s teams are known for their up-tempo offense jump-started by a stifling defense, which Richardson coined “40 minutes of hell.”
Age: 46
Record at UAB: 89-41 (four seasons)
NCAA Tournament appearances: 3 (2004, ’05, ’06)
Notable victory: 2004 NCAA tourney over No. 1 seed Kentucky, 76-75, to reach the Sweet 16, where the Blazers were beaten by Kansas University, 100-74
This season: UAB, ranked No. 25, finished 24-7. The Blazers lost, 69-64, to Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
UAB salary: $600,000 a year plus $175,000 in possible compensation
Birthplace: Birmingham, Ala.
Colleges attended: Jefferson State Junior College, Tulsa (under mentor Nolan Richardson)
Coaching history: Tulsa (volunteer assistant), Arkansas (assistant), UAB (head coach)
Family: Wife Marcheita, children Darcheita, Michael Jr., Yvonne
