Snyder resigns as head basketball coach
By Shawn Davis 3/10/06

Quin Snyder, the Missouri mens head basketball coach has resigned from the head coach position. The announcement came Friday, Feb. 10. Snyder, who was in the middle of his seventh year as head coach led the Tigers to a 10-11 record while losing the last six games, including a blowout to Baylor in Waco, TX.

Snyder’s career at Mizzou ended Feb. 12, according to a statement posted on www.mutigers.com. He received a settlement that gave him $574,000. He was slated to make $195,000 in each of the last two years of his contract. Snyder was informed by former Mizzou basketball player, and color analyst, Gary Link, last week that he would not be the coach next year and announced to his team the he was stepping down on Friday. Link was sent by Athletic Director Mike Alden.

Snyder was hired seven years ago to replace previous head coach Norm Stewart. He was an assistant coach at Duke University under Mike Krzyzewski where he also played as a point guard. Snyder had instant success at Mizzou, leading the team to four straight NCAA tournament appearances. Snyder compiled a 126-91 record while at Mizzou, but struggled through his last three seasons, notching just a 42-42 record. Associate head coach, Melvin Watkins, will coach the team for the rest of the season.

"Quin has given everything he's had to this University, and to the young men in his program, and we are proud of the things that he achieved," Alden said in a statement. "While we did not have intentions of making any potential changes until after the season was over, when presented with this scenario, both parties worked well together to bring it to a conclusion. Our focus is now on our young men and our coaches and staff, and giving them what they need to push through to the end of this season."

Since the resignation, both UM President Elson Floyd and Chacelor, Brady Deaton have launched an investigation into Alden and the way he handled the resignation. The two-day investigation by Deaton came to a close last week and left Wallace looking for answers. Another investigation will be launched this week to try and solve the differences between what Snyder said happened versus what Alden said happend. The differences stem from how Snyder was told about Aldens descision.

The troubles for Snyder started with the recruitment of point guard, Ricky Clemons. After Clemons was kicked off the team for assault three years ago, he brought up many alleged NCAA violations that prompted an investigation into Snyder’s program. That investigation led to sanctions and the resignation of assistant coaches Tony Harvey and Lane Odom. The troubles did not stop there for the Tigers. In 2003 the Tigers were ranked among the elite teams in the country. With arguably the most talent in the country, led by seniors Ricky Paulding and Arthur Johnson, the Tigers were ranked as high as number two nationally. The Tigers failed to make the NCAA tournament and lost in the first round of the NIT tournament. Since then Snyder has been on the hot seat.

There has been much speculation about Snyder’s replacement, but there have been no official statements yet. Some top candidates include UAB head coach, Mike Anderson; West Virginia’s, John Beilien; and Northern Iowa’s, Greg McDermott. It is not believed that a replacement will be named until the off-season.

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