University of Missouri

SportsBeat KC: On the intriguing basketball coaching hires at UMKC and Mizzou

Dionnah Jackson-Durrett chats with family members after the event introducing her as the University of Missouri-Kansas Cityís new womenís basketball head coach at an event at the Swinney Center Tuesday, April 12, 2022.
Dionnah Jackson-Durrett chats with family members after the event introducing her as the University of Missouri-Kansas Cityís new womenís basketball head coach at an event at the Swinney Center Tuesday, April 12, 2022. jtoyoshiba@kcstar.com

Last month, Dionnah Jackson-Durrett was cutting down nets at Municipal Auditorium as the associate head coach at Texas, which had beaten Baylor to capture the Big 12 championship. This week, she was back in Kansas City to be introduced as UMKC’s new women’s coach.

On today’s episode of the SportsBeat KC podcast, you’ll hear from Jackson-Durrett as she lays out her vision and priorities in her new role.

Also on today’s show, it’s not often a news conference is called to introduce an assistant coach, but that speaks to the significance of the hiring of Charlton “C.Y.” Young at Missouri.

Young and new Tigers coach Dennis Gates spent six years together on Florida State’s staff before Gates became Cleveland State’s head coach. In Tallahassee, the assistants under Leonard Hamilton helped put together teams that rank among the best in Seminoles history and they hope to bring that kind of success to Columbia.

You’ll hear from Young and Gates from the news conference that was held late last week.

Story links:

Why both trips to Kansas City brought a smile to new KC Roos’ hoops coach

First hire on Dennis Gates’ Missouri Tigers staff comes with impressive credentials

This story was originally published April 13, 2022 at 12:33 PM.

Blair Kerkhoff
The Kansas City Star
Blair Kerkhoff has covered sports for The Kansas City Star since 1989. He was elected to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2023.
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