It’s Zo Time, Part II.
Thirteen years to the day from his departure after a successful first tour as Missouri State’s men’s basketball coach, Cuonzo Martin is coming back as the Bears’ boss.
Martin and Missouri State have agreed to a five-year contract, through the 2028-29 season, with a base salary of $600,000. Additional achievement incentives for NCAA and NIT appearances, conference championships, coaching honors and other standards are also included in the agreement.
A news conference with Martin has been scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday, April 1, in the Prime Overtime Club at Great Southern Bank Arena. Doors will open at 12:30 p.m. and the public is invited to attend. Metered parking is available in lots adjacent to the arena.
“Zo is an experienced coach who has consistently won at the Division I level,” Missouri State director of athletics Kyle Moats said in a statement. “One of the things that stands out about him is that he really wants to be at Missouri State. He is respected both nationally and here in our community, and he brings instant credibility to our program.
“His track record with our donors, our fans and our students will make this an easy transition. In my opinion, there was not a better coach out there to lead our young men.”
Martin led the Bears to a 26-9 record in his final season
The Missouri State coaching job has been open since Dana Ford was fired after going 106-82 six seasons. In Martin, Missouri State is turning to a coach who has proven he can win at the school, having led the Bears to the 2011 Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championship — the only coach in the school’s 34 seasons as a Valley member to do so.
Martin, 52, had a 61-41 record in three seasons at Missouri State, including 26-9 in 2010-11 when the Bears won the Valley with a 15-3 record. The Bears lost in the finals of the league tournament and went to the NIT that season. He left to become coach at Tennessee on March 27, 2011.
The East St. Louis, Illinois, native is 264-198 in 14 seasons as a head coach and was a standout player at Purdue from 1991-95. He spent three seasons at Tennessee, three at California and five at Missouri. Martin last coached in the 2021-22 season at Missouri, where he was fired after going 12-21.
Martin has been out of coaching since he was fired at Missouri
Martin sat out the last two seasons and has been an inspirational speaker, hosted a podcast called “It All Counts” and watched his son Chase play at Purdue, where he’s a senior and a bench player for the Boilermakers who are a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Martin had a 63-41 record in three seasons at Tennessee, 62-39 in three years at Cal and 78-77 in five seasons at Missouri. He led Missouri to two NCAA Tournaments and Tennessee and Cal to one each.
Martin and his wife, Roberta, have two sons, Joshua and Chase, and a daughter, Addison.
Martin will need to rebuild the Bears’ roster, as all but four players — Raphe Ayres, Nick Kramer, Tommy Pinegar and Davion Hill — have either exhausted their eligibility or entered the transfer portal.
Attendance in the program has lagged since Martin left Missouri State. His first tenure coincided with the opening of Great Southern Bank Arena and the attendance averages of 7,147; 6,645 and 7,595 are three of the top four since the building opened.
Cuonzo Martin Contract Highlights
Five-year contract, beginning April 1, 2024
Base salary (includes television and radio shows)
Year 1 - $600,000
Year 2 - $625,000
Year 3 - $650,000
Year 4 - $650,000
Year 5 - $650,000
Bonus achievement payments:
Academic Progress Rate (APR):
- $2,500 per year the team’s calculated APR meets or exceeds 930
Team Grade Point Average (GPA):
- $7,500 each year the team GPA average is equal to or greater than 3.5.
- $5,000 each year the GPA average is equal to or greater than 3.25 but lower than 3.50
- $2,500 each year the GPA is equal to or greater than 3.0 but lower than 3.25
Conference achievements
- $100,000 each year the team is regular-season champion or co-champion of any conference the school is in
- $5,000 if team finishes as runner-up in conference.
- $50,000 for conference-tournament championship.
- $75,000 for an at-large invitation to NCAA Tournament.
- $20,000 for each victory in the NCAA Tournament.
- $10,000 for appearance in NIT postseason tournament.
- $5,000 for each victory in NIT.
- $10,000 for conference Coach of the Year award.
- $25,000 for being named National Coach of the Year by the Men's Basketball Coaches Association, the AP Coach of the Year, the Naismith Coach of the Year or any similar reputable organization.
- $5,000 for each victory against a top-25 team.
- $7,500 if Missouri State ranks in the top 25 of the NET rankings at any point of a regular season.
- $20,000 if the team ranks in the top 25 of NET rankings at conclusion of a season.
- $1,500 for any win over an ACC, Big 12, Big 10, Big East or SEC opponent.
Attendance average bonuses:
- $20,000 if attendance averages from 4,000 to 4,999
- $25,000 for 5,000 to 5,999
- $30,000 for 6,000 to 6,999
- $40,000 for 7,000 to 7,999
- $50,000 for 8,000 to 8,999
- $60,000 for 9,000 to 9,999
- $75,000 for 10,000 or more
Country club membership:
The University shall pay all membership and social dues for Coach Martin and his family that shall entitle him to a social and golf membership in a country club of his choice located in Springfield.
Buyout if Martin terminates contract:
- (i) If Coach Martin terminates the agreement on or before March 15, 2026, the Liquidated Damages Amount will be $600,000 paid to university
- (ii) If Coach Martin terminates the agreement between March 16, 2026 and March 15,2 027, the Liquidated Damages Amount will be $400,000
- (iii) If Coach Martin terminates the agreement between March 16, 2027 and March 15, 2028, the Liquidated Damages Amount will be $200,000
- (iv) If Coach Martin terminates the agreement between March 16, 2028 and March 31, 2029, no Liquidated Damages will be assessed or owed and Coach Martin can terminate this Agreement at no cost.
- Additionally, Coach Martin shall not be obligated to pay any Liquidated Damages for early termination without cause if he leaves collegiate coaching in its entirety for a minimum of one year, leaves to take an assistant collegiate coaching position for a minimum of one year, leaves to take a head coaching position at a NCAA Division II or Division III institution or he leaves to take a head coaching position with a professional basketball team.
