Tennessee hires Cuonzo Martin

[VegasWarrior77]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=6264533&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee hired Missouri State's Cuonzo Martin on Sunday to take over a Volunteers program facing punishment by the NCAA for recruiting violations.

Martin, 39, replaces the popular Bruce Pearl, who was fired March 21, a month after being charged with unethical conduct for lying to NCAA investigators.

Martin was hired in 2008 by Missouri State after eight years as an assistant at Purdue and went 61-41 in three seasons. He was chosen this season's Missouri Valley Conference coach of the year after the Bears finished 26-9 and won the program's first MVC regular-season championship.

"Cuonzo is among the most promising young coaches in the game, and we are excited about the coaching ability, toughness and energy that he brings to our program," Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton said. "He has a proven track record of success as a head coach at Missouri State and an assistant at Purdue as well as an outstanding career as a college basketball player."

As a player, Martin scored 1,666 points in 127 career games with Purdue and set the Boilermakers' single-game record for 3-pointers with eight in an NCAA regional semifinal victory over Kansas in 1994.

He was selected 57th overall in the 1995 NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks and played in the NBA for four years, including stints with the Milwaukee Bucks and Vancouver Grizzlies.

A press conference to introduce Martin was scheduled for Monday afternoon.

Martin and Missouri State faced Tennessee on Nov. 17 in the second round of the preseason NIT, a close game won by the Vols, 60-56. Tennessee went on to win the tournament after victories over Virginia Commonwealth and Villanova.

It was one of the lone bright spots in the Vols' season after Pearl acknowledged on Sept. 10 misleading the NCAA investigation about a cookout at his home attended by high school juniors. The NCAA has since charged the Tennessee basketball and football programs with a dozen violations.

Pearl was fired after school officials became aware of additional potential violations committed by Pearl and his staff. The NCAA said Pearl violated its "bump rule" on Sept. 14 after speaking with a high school junior.

In six seasons, Pearl, 51, amassed a 145-61 record and led the Volunteers to their first No. 1 ranking in 2008, first Southeastern Conference regular-season championship in four decades and first NCAA tournament regional finals appearance, missing out on a trip to the 2010 Final Four by a single point.

[MUMac]

He was rumored to be considered by Mizzou.  I am surprised by this.  Tennessee may get some harsh treatment from the NCAA.  Could be a difficult program to run for awhile.  Seemed like he might have had better options.

[Lennys Tap]

He was rumored to be considered by Mizzou.  I am surprised by this.  Tennessee may get some harsh treatment from the NCAA.  Could be a difficult program to run for awhile.  Seemed like he might have had better options.

Hopefully he'll get a 10+ year contract. Anything more than 8 total conference wins over the next 3 years would be an overachievement.

[HouWarrior]

By reports, OU had Buzz and Cuonzo Martin on their radar. Now its down to Terry Evans, and Lon Kruger....OU needs to hire one...
Sooners, than later..lol

[avid1010]

By reports, OU had Buzz and Cuonzo Martin on their radar. Now its down to Terry Evans, and Lon Kruger....OU needs to hire one...
Sooners, than later..lol

They can't really give it to Evans can they?

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Does Martin value slow, overweight 2 guards?

[Marqevans]

Hope he likes Maymon's dad.

[jaybilaswho?]

Tennessee may get some harsh treatment from the NCAA.  Could be a difficult program to run for awhile.

Just thinking outloud, but given that Tenn has gotten rid of Pearl does the school deserve "harsh treatment"? It was the coach that had all the indescretions. I know they deserve punishment, but I think the punishment should be towards Pearl and not the program or be burdened by the new coach.

[Tugg Speedman]

Just thinking outloud, but given that Tenn has gotten rid of Pearl does the school deserve "harsh treatment"? It was the coach that had all the indescretions. I know they deserve punishment, but I think the punishment should be towards Pearl and not the program or be burdened by the new coach.

See IU in 2008

[jaybilaswho?]

See IU in 2008

I know. I think I have that thought now becuase I like Cuonzo and want to see him succeed at Tenn... Crean, well that was a different story.

[MUMac]

Just thinking outloud, but given that Tenn has gotten rid of Pearl does the school deserve "harsh treatment"? It was the coach that had all the indescretions. I know they deserve punishment, but I think the punishment should be towards Pearl and not the program or be burdened by the new coach.

If you read the allegations the NCAA has made against UT, they will be hit with institutional control issues.  You can make the argument that they fired Pearl, but they certainly took their time to do it.  Plus, the Football program is also being investigated - again, institutional control.

If I were Martin, I might have looked elsewhere or waited for the hammer to come down first.

[GOO]

Much like Crean, he will be given a long leash and time to recover from any sanctions.  In the mean time, he probably collect 1.5 to 2.0 million per year.  Not a bad gig... less pressure to perform in the short term and more money.

[MUMac]

Unlike Crean, he will be coaching at a university that basketball can be an afterthought to football.  I would think Martin could have done better at a place to make more of a name for himself.  This could be a tough gig to turnaround.

[Chili]

Hopefully Jon Harris gets to move with Cuonzo to Tennessee if he doesn't get a loot at MO St.