Chicago City Wire

The University of Missouri Board of Curators recently voted unanimously to extend the contract of Dennis Gates, the Whitten Family Men's Basketball head coach, through the end of the 2028-29 season. 

"Thank you to the Board of Curators, President Mun Choi and Desireé Reed-Francois for this opportunity to continue to lead Missouri basketball," Gates said in a statement. "The city of Columbia is my home, my family loves it here and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. My staff has done a tremendous job of supporting my dream building on the great tradition of Mizzou. I'm proud to be a Tiger and to coach at this wonderful institution."

The revised contract sees Gates receive a salary increase, with annual increments of $100,000. This pay bump is set to begin in the 2023-24 season and will continue for the duration of the updated agreement. The other terms and conditions of his initial contract remain in place.

Gates, is a Chicago native who grew up in the Garfield Park neighborhood. He became a key player on Whitney Young High School's boys' basketball team in 1998. Playing alongside future college and NBA stars like Quentin Richardson (DePaul), Cordell Henry (Marquette), and Najeeb Echols (Missouri), Gates led the  Whitney Young Dolphins to a 27-1 record.

The team's crowning achievement came in the state championship title game, in which the Dolphins managed to stave off Galesburg with a 61-56 victory. 

A two-time selection for the Pac-10 First Team All-Academic Team, Gates has proven himself as both an athlete and scholar. He received the Cal's Most Inspirational Player title in 2001. Additionally, Gates was recognized as the Bears' Outstanding Student-Athlete in both 1999 and 2001.

Gates first coached with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2002, and went on to coach for  Marquette in 2003, Florida State in both 2004 and 2011, Cal in 2005, Northern Illinois in 2007, and Nevada in 2009.

In an impressive debut season, Gates has managed to make a significant impact on the team's performance. The University of Missouri's men's basketball team achieved 24 victories under Gates' leadership - a record that marks the second-highest number of wins for a first-year head coach. In light of his accomplishments, USA Today has honored Gates with the title of 2023 Southeastern Conference (SEC) Coach of the Year.