Missouri Athletics

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri announced on Monday that former University of Central Missouri head coach Kim Anderson, 58, a two-time graduate of Mizzou (’79 and ’81) and the 2014 NABC National Coach of the Year, has agreed to become the 18th men’s basketball coach in school history.

Anderson will be officially introduced at a press conference in the Great Room of the Reynolds Alumni Center at 10 a.m. on Tuesday morning. Fans and media are welcomed to attend this event.

The move by Director of Athletics Mike Alden signaled a return to Missouri’s proud history and helps the program welcome back a “True Son” (Sedalia, Mo.) who is coming off a 30-5 record with the Mules and the 2014 NCAA Division II National Championship. Anderson’s national title run at UCM becomes even more impressive considering the program welcomed in 10 new players last season and had just one returning student-athlete averaging more than 4.7 points per game.

“We are pleased and excited to have Kim Anderson leading our program,” Alden said. “He’s a man of great character, integrity and respect. He has demonstrated the ability to mentor young men on and off the court, academically and socially. He’s a proven winner on all levels, and he’s built tremendous relationships around the country in the basketball community, which assists greatly with recruiting and other important aspects for a program. Lastly, the fact that he’s a Missouri Tiger at heart is important, he is committed to Mizzou and has a passion to build a program of which all Tiger fans will be proud.”

“I am excited that Kim Anderson will lead our men’s basketball program moving forward, and I welcome him back to Mizzou” said Chancellor Bowen Loftin. “Kim is a tremendous teacher and coach with a proven track record as a winner, both as a player and as a person. More importantly, his integrity and values-centered approach will help us recruit elite student-athletes who will win championships and make us proud both on and off of the court.”

It’s easy to see why Anderson was targeted early by Alden. He embodies the key characteristics of his fan base and his former mentor, Norm Stewart. Anderson spent 12 seasons in total at UCM and won nearly 75 percent of his games over a decade-plus worth of work. Anderson went 274-94 (.743) during that span and finished his career ranked among the Top 10 in career winning percentage all-time at the NCAA Division II level. In addition to his consistent winning approach, Anderson helped the Mules collect league and national hardware, winning or sharing six Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) regular season conference titles and advancing to seven NCAA Tournaments. The Mules advanced to three Final Fours under his watch, reaching the national semifinals in 2007 and 2009 before defeating West Liberty, 84-77, in the title game this year in Evansville, Ind. During its 2014 national title charge UCM earned tournament wins over Top 10 programs No. 4 Southern Connecticut State (98-88), No. 1 Metro State (71-69) and No. 7 West Liberty.

In addition to being one of the Top 10 winningest coaches in Division II history, Anderson resigns his spot in Warrensburg as the school’s all-time winningest coach. He led the Mules to three 30-win seasons, the only 30-win seasons in school history. He finished above .500 his 11 finals seasons and won 20 games seven times in 12 years, finishing among the MIAA’s top three in the league standings nine times over his final 10 seasons.

“I’m honored and humbled to have the opportunity to return to Mizzou and lead a program that our family is so vested in,” Anderson said after accepting the head coaching position Monday afternoon. “When we took over in Warrensburg 12 years ago, we faced an uphill battle. We had support, we had a winning history and great campus leadership, but the program had lost its identity. I see that same opportunity here at Missouri. We have great leadership with Dr. Loftin and Mike Alden, and I know we have a passionate fan base. We have a lot of work ahead of us and that work starts today, but as a Missourian I embrace this challenge and look forward to bringing championship basketball back to Norm Stewart Court and Mizzou Arena.”

Anderson spent 11 seasons on staff at Mizzou over two stints (1982-85 and 1991-99) and served six years as an assistant coach at Baylor (1985-91) under Gene Iba. Anderson was first a graduate assistant for Stewart from 1982-85 and helped the program to the 1983 Big Eight title, the program’s fourth straight, before taking his first full-time assistant coaching role with the Bears two years later.

In Waco, Texas, Anderson and Iba teamed to help Baylor to its first NCAA Tournament in 38 years in 1988 and returned to Missouri in a full-time capacity three seasons later, serving as an assistant coach for five more NCAA Tournament teams, including the 1993-94 squad that finished 14-0 in conference action and won the Big Eight Championship. That team earned a No. 1 seed in the 1994 NCAA Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight.

As a player, Anderson embodies what it means to be a student-athlete at Mizzou. He graduated from Missouri with degrees in education in 1979 and in 1981 (Masters). He was an Academic All-Big Eight selection in 1975 and 1977. He helped Mizzou win its first Big Eight crown under the Hall of Famer Stewart in 1976 and was the Big Eight Player of the Year in 1977, averaging 18.3 points and 7.9 rebounds per game as a senior. He finished his Tiger career with 1,289 points, currently No. 24 all-time in program history, and his final two seasons saw Mizzou win 20 games in back-to-back years for just the second time ever.

Anderson went on to be drafted in the second round of the 1977 NBA Draft by the Portland Trailblazers, playing 21 games for the late Dr. Jack Ramsey during the 1978-79 season. He later completed his professional playing career in Italy and France until returning to assist the Tigers in 1982.

Anderson is a member of numerous Hall of Fames around the state of Missouri. He was inducted into the University of Missouri Athletics Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in Springfield in 2005 as a student-athlete. He was later inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame for his coaching accomplishments in 2012. In 2006 he was named to the Mizzou Basketball All-Century Team in a fan vote.

Prior to taking over the reins at Central Missouri, Anderson served two years as assistant commissioner of the Big 12 Conference. He was the league liaison for men’s basketball and oversaw the officiating programs and the postseason tournament. Anderson and his wife of 37 years, Melissa, have two sons, Ryan and Brett. Brett will graduate from Missouri next month. Contractual details for Coach Anderson will be released on Tuesday.

Kim Anderson Head Coaching Career
Year	Record	Pct.	MIAA	Finish	Pct.	Postseason
2002-03	13-15	.464	7-11	7th	.389	MIAA Tournament
2003-04	18-10	.643	10-8	4th	.556	MIAA Tournament
2004-05	24-7	.774	14-4	1st	.778	NCAA Tournament
2005-06	24-8	.750	11-5	2nd	.688	NCAA Tournament
2006-07	31-4	.886	15-3	1st	.833	NCAA Final Four
2007-08	18-10	.643	11-7	3rd	.611	MIAA Tournament
2008-09	30-5	.857	16-4	2nd	.800	NCAA Final Four
2009-10	27-4	.871	18-2	1st	.900	NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2010-11	18-11	.620	13-9	5th	.591	MIAA Tournament
2011-12	19-8	.704	15-5	T-1st	.750	MIAA Tournament
2012-13	22-8	.733	13-5	T-1st	.722	NCAA Tournament
2013-14	30-5	.857	16-3	1st	.842	2014 NCAA National Championship

FHSU Sports Information

Fort Hays State junior Trey Herman has been selected as an individual to the Division II Midwest/Central Regional to be held May 5-7 at Fox Run Golf Club in Eureka, Mo., just outside of St. Louis. Herman was one of four individuals on non-qualifying teams from the regional to be selected.

Teams selected to compete in the event from the Central Region include Central Missouri, Arkansas Tech, Henderson State, Northeastern State, Central Oklahoma, Nebraska-Kearney, Southeastern Oklahoma State, Lindenwood, Southwestern Oklahoma State, and St. Cloud State. Individuals selected included Herman, Ross Miller of Minnesota State, Kowan O’Keefe of Minot State, and Ryan Burek of Missouri Southern.

Herman finished second in the MIAA individual point standings in the regular season and earned All-MIAA honors. He looks for the chance to advance to the NCAA Championships if he can be one of the top two individuals at the regional.

FHSU Sports Information

Fort Hays State Softball dropped its regular season finale by an 8-2 decision to Nebraska-Kearney before the second game of a doubleheader was canceled due to severe weather in the area.

FHSU finishes the regular season at 28-18 overall, closing out the MIAA portion with a 17-9 record.

Kylie Strand led the offense, going 2-for-3 with an RBI while Danie Brinkmann was 1-for-3 with an RBI double and a run scored. Bianca Adame was 2-for-4 with a run.

Paxton Duran (16-8) threw the first 3.1 innings, taking the loss after allowing five runs on six hits and walking three with two strikeouts. Jordan Jones tossed the final 2.2 innings, allowing three runs on six hits.

FHSU got the scoring started in the third, as Adame singled before stealing second and taking third on Courtney Dobson’s ground out.  With one down, Brinkmann lined a shot to left field for a double, scoring Adame and giving FHSU a 1-0 lead.  After Callie Wright walked, Strand took a ball the opposite way for a single, scoring Brinkmann and stretching the Tigers’ lead to two.

The Lopers would tie the game in the bottom of the third on Sarah Rome’s two-RBI double before scoring three runs in the fourth and fifth innings to put the game way.

Game 2 was called in the bottom of the first with the score tied, 0-0.

The Tigers are the fourth seed in the MIAA Championships next week (May 1-4) in Overland Park, Kan.  FHSU will face Central Missouri, the fifth-seed, at 6 p.m.

MIAA Media Relations

Kansas City, Mo. – Emporia State swept Lincoln to earn the MIAA regular season championship and earn the top seed in the MIAA Softball Tournament. The Hornets will face Northeastern State in the opening round as the RiverHawks earn the eighth.

Central Oklahoma earns the second seed in the MIAA Tournament will face Lindenwood who will be the seventh seed. Missouri Western has claimed the third seed and will face sixth seeded Northwest Missouri in the opening round. The fourth seed was earned by Fort Hays State who will take on fifth seeded Central Missouri.

Games are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 1 from the Blue Valley Recreation Complex in Overland Park, Kan.

May 1, 2014 (Blue Valley Recreation Complex)
Game 1    #1 Emporia State vs. #8 Northeastern State                        6 p.m.
Game 2    #4 Fort Hays State vs. #5 Central Missouri                          6 p.m.
Game 3    #3 Missouri Western vs. #6 Northwest Missouri                   6 p.m.
Game 4    #2 Central Oklahoma vs. #7 Lindenwood                             6 p.m.
Game 5    Loser GM 1 vs. Loser GM 2                                                  8 p.m.
Game 6    Loser GM 3 vs. Loser GM 4                                                   8 p.m.
Game 7    Winner GM 1 vs. Winner GM 2                                              8 p.m.
Game 8    Winner GM 4 vs. Winner GM 5                                              8 p.m.

May 2, 2014 (Blue Valley Recreation Complex)
Game 9    Winner GM 6 vs. Loser GM 7                                              11 a.m.
Game 10  Winner GM 5 vs. Loser GM 8                                              11 a.m.
Game 11  Winner GM 10 vs. Winner GM 9                                           1 p.m.
Game 12  Winner GM 7 vs. Winner GM 8                                             3 p.m.
Game 13  Winner GM 11 vs. Loser GM 12                                            5 p.m.

May 3, 2014 (Blue Valley Recreation Complex)
Game 14   Winner GM 12 vs. Winner GM 13                                       12 p.m.
Game 15   Winner GM 14 vs. Loser GM 14                                           2 p.m.

FHSU Sports Information

Fort Hays State Softball closed out the home portion of its regular season with a sweep of MIAA opponent Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday. The Tigers pulled off two comeback victories, winning Game 1, 12-4, in five innings before a four-run sixth inning secured a Game 2 win, 6-4.

FHSU (28-17, 17-9 MIAA) has now won six of its last seven, securing the fourth seed in the MIAA tournament and setting up a first round matchup next Thursday against fifth-seeded Central Missouri in Overland Park, Kan.  UNK dropped to 12-28 (9-17 MIAA) with the doubleheader loss.

The Tigers travel north to Kearney, Neb., on Sunday for a non-conference doubleheader against the Lopers to close out the regular season.  The doubleheader is set to begin at Noon.

Game 1: FHSU 12, UNK 4 (5 innings)
Down 3-0 after the first, FHSU tied the game in the second before a four-run fourth and a five-run fifth inning to run-rule the Lopers, 12-4.

Jordan Jones (1-0) claimed her first win of the season on Senior Day, tossing the final two innings in shutout fashion, allowing just two hits to shut down the Lopers. Paxton Duran started the game, tossing into the fourth inning and allowing four runs (just two earned) on five hits, striking out two.

Offensively, Biance Adame put together an impressive senior day performance, going 3-for-4 at the plate with two doubles and seven RBI – tying the school’s single-game record. Amanda Vaupel was 3-for-3 with three runs scored, while Kellsi Olsen was 2-for-3 and Courtney Dobson (1-for-2) had two walks and two RBI.

After allowing three in the top of the first, FHSU answered with three runs of its own in the bottom of the second.  With two outs, Vaupel singled to left center before taking second on Callie Wright’s walk.  The bases were loaded as Olsen reached on an error and Adame emptied the bases with a double to left center.

The Lopers struck again in the fourth, taking the lead with a RBI single from Erin Dwyer, but it was short lived as Fort Hays State took over for good in its half of the fourth.

Duran led off the bottom half with a single up the middle, followed by Vaupel’s bunt single and Wright’s sacrifice bunt, putting runners on second and third with one out.  Olsen’s first hit of the game followed as she singled through the left side and took second as the throw to the plate was late, scoring Duran and pushing Vaupel to third.  Adame’s single up the middle plated Vaupel and Olsen, and as a throw from the centerfielder came in errant, Adame moved up to second.

After a pitching change, Dobson drew a walk and Brinkmann singled through the left side, scoring Adame and putting the Tigers ahead, 7-4.

Looking to extend their lead in the fifth, a one-out burst of offense ended in five runs on five hits to put the game away early.  With one out, Vaupel singled to right center for her third hit of the game, followed by a fielder’s choice from Wright that landed both runners safely as a throwing error was wide of the bag at second base.

Olsen’s single to left loaded the bases, and after Madison Putman pinch ran for Wright on second, Adame took a 2-1 pitch into left center for her second double of the game, scoring Vaupel and Putman and pushing Olsen to third.  In the next at-bat, Dobson singled home Olsen and Adame, giving FHSU a seven-run lead with just one out in the fifth.

After Brinkmann walked, Samantha Villareal’s single up the middle allowed Adame to scamper home and end the game in walk-off fashion, 12-4.

Game 2: FHSU 6, UNK 4
After finding themselves down again early, the Tigers rallied late for a 6-4 victory in Game 2 to complete the sweep.

Katelyn Kern started the game, tossing 1.2 innings with just two hits allowed and a strikeout, but was tagged for four unearned runs before exiting in the second. Kelsey Kimminau (10-7) entered and threw the final 5.1 innings for the victory, giving up just one hit and striking out two Lopers.

At the plate, Kylie Strand was 2-for-4 with two RBI, while Amanda Vaupel went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Danie Brinkmann’s two walks moved her into first all-time in Fort Hays State history for career walks, giving her 77 free passes in her three seasons at FHSU.  Brinkmann (1-for-2), Callie Wright (2-for-2) and Tori Beltz (1-for-3) each had doubles in the game.

UNK jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second, taking advantage of three hits and a Tiger error to score four unanswered.  That score remained until the bottom of the fourth, when FHSU broke out of its shell score two runs on four hits – though they would leave the bases loaded twice in the fourth and fifth.

Strand led off the fourth with an infield single off the pitcher, and took second on Wright’s sacrifice bunt.  Vaupel pushed Strand to third with a single to centerfield before Samantha Villarreal’s pinch hit single to left scored Strand.

Kellsi Olsen reached on an error by UNK’s third baseman, loading the bases as Vaupel slid underneath the tag at third. Biance Adame followed with a sacrifice fly to right, deep enough for Vaupel to dash home and cut the lead in half, 4-2.

Fort Hays State rallied in the sixth with four runs on five hits for the comeback win, starting the offensive burst with a one out single from Courtney Dobson, followed by Brinkmann’s double to right.  After Madison Putman pinch ran for Brinkmann, Beltz drove a 3-2 pitch off the right field wall for an RBI double, scoring Dobson and moving Putman to third, once again cutting the lead in half (4-3).

In the next at-bat, Strand worked a 1-1 count before taking a pitch the opposite way to right to score Putman and Rilee Krier (who pinch ran for Beltz), before Strand took third on an error by the right fielder.  Strand moved to third on an illegal pitch, and later in the inning came home on Vaupel’s single up the middle to put FHSU ahead, 6-4.

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

Missouri Western scored five runs in the seventh inning to rally for a 7-4 victory over the Fort Hays State Tigers in game two of their doubleheader Saturday at the Spring Sports Center in St. Joseph to complete the four-game series sweep. The Griffons scored a run in the bottom of the seventh to win the opener 1-0.

The Tigers end their season by losing their final five games and finish the year 17-29 and 14-26 in the MIAA. The Griffons have won 13 of their last 17 and improve to 28-14 and 24-14 in conference play.

The Tigers led 4-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh thanks to a three-run second which saw RBI singles from Horace Johnson, Kevin Czarnecki and Cooper Langley.

Starter Gus Strunk pitched well until the seventh when he loaded the bases with no outs on two singles and a hit batter. Gabe Cook came in to relieve and after a strikeout of leadoff hitter Trevor LaHonta, gave up a two-run single to Dylan Koch. Cook struck out Ryan Denger then walked David Chew. Jake Schrader followed with a two-run single to put the Griffons up 7-4.

Strunk took the loss, allowing five runs, four earned, on seven hits over six innings.

The Tigers waste a great pitching performance from Steven Federau in the first game. Federau pitched a shutout through the first six innings. He didn’t allow a baserunner past first until the seventh when Trevor LaHonta singled then moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. He scored the games only run on Ryan Degner’s one-out single to center. Federau allowed just four hits while striking out four and walking one.

Missouri Western’s Jake Jones was equally as impressive, holding the Tigers to two hits before leaving with two outs in the sixth with the bases loaded. Fort Hays State used a walk, bunt single and fielders choice to load the bases with no outs. The Griffons got a force out at home on Jordan Miller’s grounder to third.  After Gus Strunk struck out for the second out, Clayton Garland lined out to first to end the Tiger only scoring threat of the game.

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

Fort Hays State’s postseason hopes came to an end Friday as the Tigers were swept in a doubleheader at Missouri Western. The Griffons won 12-3 and 9-1 ending the Tigers chances at grabbing the eighth spot into next week’s MIAA tournament first-round. The Tigers are now 17-27 overall and 14-24 in the MIAA. They close out the season in a 1pm doubleheader in St. Joseph Saturday.

Steve Johnson Postgame Interview

The Griffons struck early in the first game, building a 10-0 lead after three innings. The Tigers scored a run in the fourth and two in the fifth but MWSU answered with two in the bottom of the fifth for the final score. Jordan Miller had two hits and Kevin Czarnecki and Copper Langley both drove in a run.

Tyler Patty (2-6) lasted just 1.1 innings, giving up four earned runs on seven hits and takes the loss.

The Griffons took advantage of a couple of Tiger throwing errors to score three unearned runs in the third and three more in the fourth in game two. They led 9-0 before Kevin Czarnecki’s leadoff homer in the ninth.

Starter Austin Unrein (3-3) gave up nine runs, three earned, on seven hits over 5.1 innings and takes the loss. Czarnecki and Casey Sedbrook both had two hits.