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Mike Anderson Arkansas-bound?
Published: 3/18/2011 5:29 PM
Last Modified: 3/18/2011 5:29 PM

Even before Arkansas let basketball coach John Pelphrey go, it was speculated that the Razorbacks would try to hire Missouri coach and former Arkansas assistant Mike Anderson.

Now that Anderson’s season is over -- the Tigers suffered an NCAA Tournament defeat Thursday night -- speculation is edging closer to fact.

A source, citing information from multiple individuals, told the Tulsa World on Friday that Anderson could be introduced as Pelphrey’s successor as soon as Monday. A separate source was less certain, indicating that the hire was a possibility, but not a done deal.

The story may be of interest to Tulsans because Anderson is a former University of Tulsa player who began his career as a volunteer assistant at TU under Nolan Richardson.

When Richardson left TU to go to Arkansas, Anderson followed and became his right-hand man. Anderson also served as Arkansas’ interim coach after Richardson and the Razorbacks parted company during the 2001-02 season.

Anderson wasn’t hired as Richardson’s successor, so he journeyed out on own as a head coach and did his mentor proud, taking Alabama-Birmingham to four consecutive postseason trips (including three NCAA Tournaments) and guiding Missouri to three NCAA Tournaments in five seasons at the helm.

A foundation for Anderson’s possible return to campus was apparently laid when Arkansas current administration, including athletic director Jeff Long, took measures to rebuild bridges with Richardson, now the coach of the WNBA’s Tulsa Shock. Richardson’s successful (he won a 1994 national championship) tour of duty as Arkansas’ head coach ended with a bitter divorce.


Reader Comments 10 Total
DomoArrigato (last year)
Anderson might go to Arkansas, considering his past history there, but it is not an advancement from his position at Mizzoui. At best it is a lateral move.
whw7 (last year)
Are you serious?

Mizzou- 23 NCAA Tournament appearances, 0 NCAA Championships, 0 Final Fours, 3 Elite Eights, 6 Sweet Sixteens

Arkansas- 29 NCAA Tournament appearances, 1 NCAA Championship, 6 Final Fours, 10 Elite Eights, 10 Sweet Sixteens

Arkansas is a MUCH better job.
kcc12 (last year)
No chance, too much water under the bridge with Richardson and Arkie is a horrible job right now, no matter at Domo says. Arkie is like ou, look for mid-major coach at best.
Kilgore.Trout (last year)
Domo - Not with the future of the Big 12 questionable at best. Tubberville at Tech even said Big 12 was doomed to failure because of inequality within the pay structure. Mizzou thought they were going to the Big 10 & were being left behind by both the Big 10 & Pac 10. Texas is poised for independence and can swing a big stick in the Texas league.

The SEC is a much stronger overall conference. ARK could be in a good position in the SEC west.

ARK has a great facility at Bud Walton Arena which can comfortably seat 20K. Anderson has made Mizzou much more relevant than Arkansas of late!

ARK has had some crazy media zealots, led by Wally Hall. He reads like a card carrying Klansman?
Ark1hog (last year)
You Mizzou people are funny. Sorry but you will never be able to compare your program to what Arkansas has. Let's compare programs shall we?!

ARKANSAS:: National Championship, National Championship runner up, 29 NCAA Tournament appearances, 10 Elite Eights, 10 Sweet Sixteens, 6 Final Fours and last but not least 40 NCAA Tournament victories.

Sorry Mizzou but you don't even come close. Tradition will always be important and let's be real here you don't have any!

Come back to me when you do.
Marathonman (last year)
I have no dog in this fight, but what has Arkansas done in basketball in the past 10 years? Missouri is not big deal, but it seems that all Arkansas has is ancient history. OSU won a couple of national championships three generations ago, but who cares?
mlp (last year)
Mike Anderson would be a great choice. He would be smart enough to run some plays and set some screens to get Rotnei more than 10 shots a game. Pelphrey couldn't figure it out.
Stockholm (last year)
If Mike goes to Arkansas, who will do the gold commercials?
I just thought he was a weather man - who knew????
Sooner Hawg (last year)
Anderson would walk into a golden opportunity at Arkansas, now two coaches removed from coaching legends Eddie Sutton and Nolan Richardson, a 19,000 seat arena, great statewide fanbase support, a bigtime ESPN-SEC network deal, and a top ten recruiting class signed to come in ( Pelphrey did sign one of the nation's top classes in 2011 with prospects B.J. Young, Ky Madden, Hunter Mickelson, Aaron Ross and Devonta Abron) . Plus a very good AD in Jeff Long.

about the Richardson years......Arkansas has completely different leaders than what was in place at the end of the Richardson era. AD Jeff Long reached out to Richardson as soon as he arrived on campus. Healing has developed. Richardson's NC team was honored two seasons ago. Richardson loves the area and still lives in Fayetteville.

Don't underestimate Razorback AD Jeff Long to get this done.
Ignatz (last year)
I hope nothing but the best for Mike. As someone who suffered through Jim King and lots of small ,but stout, white guys shooting two handed set shots to Nolan bringing in Mike and some guys who could actually match up against someone other than frat intra mural guys, we could have had him for a song at TU, or Gillespie,but I'm happy with a nothing team, never going anywhere,come in blue and gold and golden hurricane ,who I suspect are Wojo and his wife, to discount the importance of post season advancement, conference championships, etc. The Hogs should be so lucky as to get Mike.
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Tulsa World sports writer Jimmie Tramel is a former class president at Locust Grove High School. He graduated magna cum laude from Northeastern State University with a journalism degree and, while attending college, was sports editor of the Pryor Daily Times. He joined the Tulsa World on Oct. 17, 1989, the same day an earthquake struck the World Series. He is the OSU basketball beat writer and a columnist and feature writer during football season. In 2007, he wrote a book about Oklahoma State football with former Cowboy coach Pat Jones.

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