Pittsburg State University men’s basketball head coach Kim Anderson announced today (Mar. 1) that he will retire from his coaching position.
Anderson has led the Gorillas the past five seasons (2018-2022). He finished his decorated 20-year head coaching career with a 365-238 overall record.
“After 20 years as a head coach and 40 years total in college basketball, I have decided to retire from the head coaching position at Pittsburg State University,” Anderson said. “It has been a great ride and I am extremely thankful for having had the opportunity to coach Gorilla Basketball. Special thanks to all the players, assistant coaches, student assistants, trainers, and administrators for making my time in Pittsburg a memorable one. Also, many thanks to Gorilla Nation: the fans, band, cheerleaders, and crimson and gold dance team. Finally, none of this would have been possible without the world’s greatest family and friends. Their love and support were unbelievable.”
Anderson guided Pitt State to back-to-back 17-win seasons in his first two years as head coach, posting identical 17-13 records in those first two seasons. The 17 wins in his first season in 2017-18 was a 12-game improvement in the win column from the previous year’s squad. The Gorillas made three consecutive trips to the MIAA tournament in 2018, 2019, and 2020, including a semifinal appearance in 2019.
Pitt State complied a 3-3 postseason record in those three trips to Kansas City. Anderson’s squads posted a 17-11 (.607) overall record in 15 tournament appearances at historic Municipal Auditorium, including four tournament titles and one tournament runner-up finish.
During his five seasons at Pitt State, Anderson mentored six Gorillas who were selected as All-MIAA performers. A pair of players – Donovan Franklin and Grant Lozoya – went on to sign professional contracts.
Anderson was hired as the 15th head coach in program history at Pitt State on April 10, 2017, after serving the previous three seasons as head basketball coach at his alma mater, the University of Missouri.
Prior to his assignment at Mizzou, Anderson coached 12 seasons at MIAA rival University of Central Missouri, leading the Mules to the 2014 NCAA Division II National Championship as well as two additional Division II Final Four appearances (2007, 2009) while compiling a 274-95 (.743) record at the school.
Anderson led UCM to seven trips to the NCAA Division II National Tournament and seven 20-win seasons. In his final season with the Mules he guided the squad to a 30-5 overall record and the D2 national title. His Mules teams captured six MIAA regular season titles (2005, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014) and four MIAA Tournament titles (2005, 2007, 2009, 2013). He was selected the MIAA Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2010, and the NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year in 2014.
Anderson also spent three years as the Big 12 Conference’s Assistant Commissioner/Men’s Basketball, directing the officiating program and postseason tournament, and 17 seasons as an assistant coach at Mizzou (1982-85 & 1992-99) and Baylor (1986-91), under former Pitt State Hall of Fame head coach Gene Iba.
A native of Sedalia, Mo., Anderson played basketball at the University of Missouri from 1973-77 under legendary coach Norm Stewart. He was a first-team All-Big Eight selection as a senior in 1977 as well as the Big Eight co-Player of the Year that season.
Following his collegiate playing career, 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 Halls of Fame 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. Most recently, he was honored to the MIAA’s Hall of Fame in 2015. His 2014 national champion UCM basketball team was inducted into the MIAA Hall of Fame in June 2018.
Anderson earned a bachelor’s degree in education (BSed) from Mizzou in 1979 and a master’s of science degree (MS) in education from the school in 1981.
Anderson and his wife of 44 years, Melissa, have two sons, Ryan, the Athletics Media Relations Manager at the University of Central Missouri, and Brett, who serves as a New Market Development Associate for Mr. Long Arm, Inc., in Greenwood, Mo.
“Coach Anderson is a great personal friend as well as a valued professional colleague,” PSU Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Jim Johnson said. “I wish Kim and his wife, Melissa, all the best in this new chapter in their family’s life. Coach A and his staff have worked tirelessly the past five years to transform Pitt State into a nationally-recognized men’s basketball program. Because of his hard work and leadership, the Gorillas are in a very enviable position for success moving forward.”
