Mizzou alum Anderson lands dream job, signs $1M contract

Fresh off leading Central Missouri to the NCAA Division II basketball national championship title, Sedalia native and Mizzou alumni Kim Anderson yesterday was introduced as head men’s basketball coach in Columbia.

University of Missouri coach Frank Haith left for Tulsa last week. The Kansas City Star said the MU Board of Curators approved Anderson’s contract on Monday, welcoming back the native son.

Anderson played for Norm Stewart 1973-77 and helped power the Tigers’ first conference championship in the Big Eight. After a five-year professional career, he served two stints as an assistant under Stewart, the most recent ending in 1999.

In his 12 seasons at Central Missouri, the Mules were 274-95, including three 30-win seasons and three trips to the Division II Final Four. Anderson won the Division II coach of the year award this year.

Anderson made $150,000 as the Mules’ coach in 2012-13, according to state records. The Star reported he signed a five-year contract with MU that guarantees Anderson $1.1 million a year, while incentives could push his salary above $2 million. Haith earned $1.7 million in his final season at MU.

Anderson inherits a roster whose top returning scorer averaged 5.8 points and he’s a rookie head coach at the Division I level who turns 59 next month.


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