Report: Painter to take Missouri job

[JasonS]

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported late Wednesday morning that Purdue basketball coach Matt Painter, 40, accepted the head coaching job at Missouri, but Purdue officials said they hadn't heard from the Boilermakers' coach.

The newspaper cited a source indicating that Painter called Missouri's athletic director to tell him he will take the job.

Purdue spokesman Tom Schott said early Wednesday afternoon that the school had heard nothing from Painter indicating he had accepted another job

Missouri pursued Painter after coach Mike Anderson left to take the head coaching job at Arkansas.

A news conference could be announced as soon as Wednesday evening, the newspaper reported.

Purdue said Tuesday that the school intended to fight to keep Painter.

"The Board of Trustees, president (France) Cordova and (athletic director) Morgan Burke clearly demonstrated the university's commitment to him and to our men's basketball program," Purdue spokesman Tom Schott said during a hastily arranged teleconference. "We are proactive. Although we will not go into any details at this time, we encourage Matt to stay, through our words and action. We want Matt to remain a Boilermaker."

Painter, the Big Ten coach of the year three times, was ousted in the third round of this year's NCAA Tournament by Virginia Commonwealth.

The Boilermakers were 26-8 this past season.

Last year, Purdue rewarded Painter with a new contract through the 2016-17 season. It includes a $1.3 million base salary and up to $1 million in incentives.

Purdue has had five straight seasons with 20 or more wins.

http://www.theindychannel.com/sports/27371187/detail.html

 

[TheLivingLegend]

strange.

 

[JasonS]

strange.

Not really when you think about it. Purdue will never be the top program in the state of Indiana and they are not putting the money into their basketball program. IU has brand new practice facilities and a top notch recruiting class coming in. Purdue has to deal with Ohio State and Michigan State who have unlimited funds for basketball. At Missouri, Painter would be at the top university in the state and at a place committed to winnning and in a conference where the only real competition is Kansas and maybe Kansas St. Texas is at a crossroads and people are becoming increasingly fed up with Barnes. Oklahoma is in disarray. Painter can win at Missouri and I think he felt like he did all the winning he could at Purdue.

 

[Kingsley Court]

Seems as if that report was a little too quick.

 

[bearcat jeff]

I find it almost irresponsible for people to push the story that our coach may be gone in the next 72 hours. We are still trying to put what may be the most critical piece of our 2011 class together in the form of a talented juco big man. The program has built some great relationships with very talented 2012 recruits. Cincinnati has been reestablished as a solid brand name and is on the uptick. There are so many positives surrounding this program right now and instead of selling them, we are talking about our head coach leaving in a matter of days.

I'm not saying some positioning and leveraging won't take place, but at the end of the day I believe Mick Cronin will be the head coach for the University of Cincinnati. Again, a school putting together a wish list of coaches and going after them is a far cry from a coach leaving.

 

[ralph1950]

Are his brothers Mark, Luke, and John going to Missouri with him?

 

[JasonS]

Seems as if that report was a little too quick.

Yup. Here is the updated report from ESPN.com:

INDIANAPOLIS -- Purdue's sales pitch to Matt Painter was good enough.

After talking with Missouri about its coaching vacancy, Painter decided to stay at his alma mater Wednesday and has agreed to an eight-year contract through the 2018-19 season.

"I am extremely excited about continuing my career at Purdue," Painter said in a statement. "I believe we have built something very special. At the same time, I feel we have much more ahead of us to accomplish. At the end of the day, my heart is at Purdue, and this is a place where I want to win a national championship."

Purdue officials spoke with Painter by telephone on Monday, then he met with Missouri officials on Tuesday while on vacation in Florida. The Tigers are hoping to fill a vacancy left open when Mike Anderson left for Arkansas after a similar public bidding battle just a week ago.

Painter and Missouri athletic director Mike Alden met Tuesday morning in Orlando, Fla., to discuss the Tigers' opening. Painter was offered the job but did not say either way at that time whether he'd take it, according to a report in the Kansas City Star.

The 40-year-old Painter has been selected the Big Ten's coach of the year three times and led the Boilermakers to Sweet 16 appearances in 2009 and 2010. Purdue (26-8) made it to the third round of this year's NCAA tournament but was knocked out by Final Four participant Virginia Commonwealth.

Last year, Purdue rewarded Painter with a contract through the 2016-17 season. It included a $1.3 million base salary and up to $1 million in incentives.

Terms of the new deal were not disclosed.

"We are thrilled to announce that Matt will continue his leadership of our men's basketball program," athletics director Morgan Burke said. "He has been at the helm of the winningest four-year period in the storied history of Boilermaker basketball, and we pledge to work with him to win championships."

After it became clear that Painter was talking with Missouri, Purdue made clear it was serious about keeping him.

"The Board of Trustees, president [France] Cordova and Morgan Burke clearly demonstrated the university's commitment to him and to our men's basketball program," Purdue spokesman Tom Schott said Tuesday. "We are proactive. Although we will not go into any details at this time, we encourage Matt to stay, through our words and action. We want Matt to remain a Boilermaker."

Purdue was successful this season despite losing top returning player Robbie Hummel to a torn ACL during preseason practice. Led by JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore, Purdue finished with a 16-0 record at Mackey Arena, the program's first undefeated home season since 1968-69. Johnson was chosen the conference player of the year and a first-team All-American, and Moore was an All-Big Ten selection.

Painter joined elite company by earning conference coach of the year honors again. Since the award's inception in 1974, just three others -- former Purdue coach Gene Keady, Ohio State's Thad Matta and former Indiana coach Bob Knight -- have won it at least three times.

Hummel will return next season, along with starters D.J. Byrd, Ryne Smith and Lewis Jackson.

"There's a lot to be excited about right now with Purdue basketball," Painter said. "We are moving into our new offices and locker room complex over the next couple of weeks. Our program is built on hard work, and we are ready to get back to improving as a team and a staff."