COLUMBIA, Mo. — Just like the young football coach who watched Tuesday’s introductory press conference from the back of the Mizzou Arena practice gym, newly hired Missouri basketball coach Dennis Gates’ level of success will ultimately come down to recruiting talent to win more games in the Southeastern Conference.
That’s a major reason why Missouri’s athletics director and campus leaders were drawn to the 42-year-old Chicago native. AD Desiree Reed-Francois, UM System president Mun Choi and Curator Jeff Layman used the words “relentless” and “tireless” five different times in their opening remarks Tuesday to describe Gates’ work on the recruiting trail — similar to three years ago when Mizzou hired young and largely unproven football coach Eli Drinkwitz.