March 27, 2008 12:39 am
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The Associated Press
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Missouri State hired Purdue associate coach Cuonzo Martin as its men’s basketball coach on Wednesday.
Martin replaces Barry Hinson, who was fired on March 9 after failing to take Missouri State to the NCAA tournament in nine seasons.
Martin, 36, was introduced at a Wednesday news conference at Missouri State’s Hammons Student Center.
Martin was a standout player at Purdue from 1991 through 1995, then played briefly in the NBA for Milwaukee and Vancouver. He was hired as a Purdue assistant in 2000 and was promoted to associate coach last year.
“Our goals are to be productive on the court, in the classroom, and in the community. On the court, we want to play hard every minute of every game, and to win basketball games,” Martin said in a statement.
Martin will make more money than his predecessor. Missouri State said Martin’s compensation package will be about $300,000, compared with a compensation package of $200,000 for Hinson. Martin also will be able to earn additional performance incentives.
The increase is funded through private gifts for the basketball program.
Martin becomes the 16th head coach in the history of Missouri State. He will take over in time for the Bears’ move into the $67 million, 11,000-seat JQH Arena for the 2008-09 season.
“I am ecstatic about having the chance to lead this basketball family,” Martin said. “The Missouri State basketball program has a rich tradition and it is clear that the fans love the Bears.”
Martin, who graduated from Lincoln High in East St. Louis, Ill., attended New Hampshire Prep School before joining the Purdue program.
He finished his four-year career ranked No. 11 on the Boilermakers’ all-time scoring list with 1,666 points. He averaged 18.4 points as a senior and shot 45.9 percent from 3-point range over his final two seasons.
Martin was seleced for Dick Vitale’s “All-Defense” team in 1995.
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