After nearly a week of speculation, former Duke associate head coach and current Missouri head coach Quin Snyder has decided that he will not leave Columbia for his home state.
In only the third year of a seven-year contract with the Tigers, Snyder put to rest any claims that he was considering a move to coach the University of Washington, near his childhood home of Mercer Island, Wash. In a statement released by the Missouri athletic department, Snyder cited the love that he and his wife have developed for his school and his expectations of his team's bright future as reasons for his decision to stay in Columbia.
"Helen and I feel a great affinity for Columbia and the University of Missouri," Snyder said. "We have some very special players on our team and we have made a tremendous investment in each other over the last few years. We are building a very special and unique program at Missouri, and I am certainly excited about the potential that lies ahead."
Over the past week, several sources reported that Snyder was considering the Huskie job after then-coach Bob Bender, also a Duke graduate and former assistant coach under Mike Krzyzewski, resigned from his post March 20.
This speculation grew even more intense when the 35-year-old told the St. Louis Dispatch, "It's always been my policy. No promises," in response to whether he would return to Columbia next season.
In his short time at Missouri, Snyder has become one of the nation's most sought-after young coaches. Amassing a 62-38 record since being named as a replacement April 7, 1999 for legendary Tiger coach Norm Stewart, Snyder's teams have improved in each of his first three seasons.
This season, Missouri finished with a 24-12 record, held a national ranking as high as No. 2 and advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAAs.
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