Tennessee names Cuonzo Martin basketball coach

Cuonzo Martin is jumping from the Missouri Valley to the Tennessee Valley to become the new men's basketball coach at Tennessee.

UT announced Sunday night that it hired the 39-year-old Martin, who has coached at Missouri State the past three years, to replace Bruce Pearl who was fired on Monday.

“Cuonzo is among the most promising young coaches in the game, and we are excited about the coaching ability, toughness and energy that he brings to our program,'' UT athletic director Mike Hamilton said in a statement released by the school Sunday night. “He has a proven track record of success as a head coach at Missouri State and an assistant at Purdue as well as an outstanding career as a college basketball player.''

Martin, who played at Purdue under legendary coach Gene Keady from 1991-95, will be introduced at a press conference at 2:30 p.m. on Monday. Terms of Martin's deal were not announced.

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