Former East St. Louis Lincoln basketball star Cuonzo Martin was introduced as the new men’s basketball coach at Missouri State University at a press conference, held last week in Springfield, Mo.
Martin, 36, replaces Barry Hinson, who was fired after nine seasons on the job. Martin had spent the past eight years as an assistant coach for Purdue for former coach Gene Keady and current coach Matt Painter. He was promoted to associate head coach at Purdue before the 2007-08 season. He was instrumental in recruiting a standout freshman class that helped Purdue advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament this season.
As a player, Martin led Lincoln to two IHSA Class AA state championships in 1988 and ’89 and a third-place finish in 1990. He enjoyed a standout college career at Purdue, where he led the Boilermakers to three consecutive Big Ten Conference championships. Martin had a brief stint in the National Basketball Association with the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks.
The hiring of Martin will usher in a new era at Missouri State University, which will open the 2008-09 season in the brand-new 11,000-seat John Q. Hammonds Arena.
