Missouri basketball: Dennis Gates gets contract extension and raise
Dennis Gates has brought back Missouri basketball in in his first season on the job. On Friday, MU announced it was rewarding its head coach’s effort with an extension.
Gates contract will now run through the 2028-29 season, adding a year to his previous deal. The contract begins at $4 million in base compensation next season, which will increase by $100,000 every year of the deal
His original contract had him making $2.5 million this season.
"We are on an upward trajectory with Coach Gates leading our men's basketball program," MU athletics director Desiree Reed-Francois said in a news release. "We have seen the program's immediate results through wins on the court, record-setting numbers in the classroom and creating enthusiasm in our community. Coach Gates has talked openly about his goals of winning championships and hanging banners in Mizzou Arena and I believe we are on that path under his leadership."
After Missouri won just 12 games last season, Gates was hired from his previous job at Cleveland State. He immediately helped lift the Tigers back into contention, and the team won 23 regular season games, earning a double bye as the No. 4 seed in the SEC tournament.
Gates’ 24 wins so far this season were the most for a first-year head coach in the SEC, since John Calipari won 35 at Kentucky during the 2009-10 season.
"Thank you to the Board of Curators, President Mun Choi and Desireé Reed-Francois for this opportunity to continue to lead Missouri basketball," Gates said in the release. "The city of Columbia is my home, my family loves it here and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. My staff has done a tremendous job of supporting my dream building on the great tradition of Mizzou. I'm proud to be a Tiger and to coach at this wonderful institution."
Missouri beat Tennessee on Friday in the SEC quarterfinals. The Tigers will be back in action on Saturday for a 12 p.m. matchup with Alabama on ESPN.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri basketball: Dennis Gates gets contract extension, raise
