Columbia — The University of Missouri chose a familiar face to navigate an unfamiliar landscape.
On June 2nd, the university announced former assistant coach Tim Fuller will become the first ever general manager of the men’s basketball program.
“I’ve made a lot of stops since my last stint here at the University of Missouri, but (Dennis Gates) offered me the opportunity to come back which felt like I was just coming home.”
Fuller was an assistant for the Tigers from 2011 to 2015. Since then. he has worn a lot of different hats.
Fuller was an executive at Nike and spent time at Overtime Elite which is a basketball league that attracts some of the country’s best young players.
He brings 25 years of experience across coaching, player development, and team building.
“It’s a new day in college basketball,” Fuller said. “As coach Gates and I have sat and spent several days, hours, weeks together, coming up with this plan. It’s been an honor and a privilege.
Like college athletics, the job of a head coach is everchanging. Gone are the days where coaches can focus on just the X’s and O’s.
Developments like the transfer portal, NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness), and last week’s NCAA v. House settlement keep adding new wrinkles.
Fuller’s job is simple: navigate this new age of college athletics…and ease the workloads of the coaches on staff.
“I believe that we are in a place where people like myself that have to study the outside ecosystem will be in a position of making sure that we’re set up to properly evaluate and construct a roster once the transfer portal comes and postseason and we have to fill gaps and holes,” Fuller said.
“With coach Gates, that was important to him,” said athletic director Laird Veatch. “(Gates) wanted to have that kind of role on staff and have somebody that can really help him interact directly with agents and manage those kinds of elements.”
Fuller joins a Mizzou program that has earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament in two of the last three seasons and said he is happy to be back to help continue the progress.
“I’m at this point just ready to serve and just make sure that Mizzou Basketball is covered 360 degrees.”
Check out the video above to learn more!
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
