CLEVELAND – Dennis Gates, architect of one of the most successful stretches in Cleveland State men's basketball history, is moving on from the Vikings to become the next head men's basketball coach at the University of Missouri.
Gates, a two-time Horizon League Coach of the Year honoree, recently concluded his third regular season as the head coach of the Vikings. In addition to Horizon League regular-season titles in 2021 and 2022, Gates led CSU to a 50-40 overall record, the program's third NCAA Tournament appearance, and a berth in the 2022 National Invitational Tournament.
"On behalf of Cleveland State University, including President Sands and our administration, faculty and staff, students, alumni and fans, we sincerely thank Dennis for his time leading the Vikings," shared Scott Garrett, Director of Athletics. "We are incredibly proud of the championship culture that Coach Gates has worked hard to put in place, especially through the team's outstanding academic success, community engagement and recent on-court accomplishments. We wish nothing but the best to Dennis, his wife Jocelyn, and their children Avery, Duke and DJ, and we will be rooting for their continued success."
"It is bittersweet to leave Cleveland State University as the last three years consisted of incredible lifelong memories," Dennis Gates said. "With the leadership of President Harland Sands, Athletic Director Scott Garrett and the entire administration, we accomplished championships in the classroom, on the court and in the community. Thank you to the Cleveland community for your unwavering support. Lastly, I want to thank the student-athletes and their families who believed in the vision I set forth and carried out the culture each and every day."
Prior to Cleveland State, Gates spent eight seasons at Florida State under Leonard Hamilton. He also had coaching stops at Marquette University, the University of California, Northern Illinois and the University of Nevada.
A national search for the Vikings' 17th head coach is underway.
DENNIS GATES CSU HEAD COACH PROFILE
- Second all-time in winning percentage at CSU (.562)
- Became the seventh head coach at Cleveland State to reach the 50-win plateau
- Coached the Vikings to the NCAA Tournament for just the third time in school history in 2021
- Led CSU to their sixth NIT appearance in program history in 2022
- Back-to-back Horizon League Coach of the Year in 2020 and 2021
- Two consecutive Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year awards (D'Moi Hodge and Tre Gomillion)
- Two First Team All-Horizon League student-athletes, one Second Team honoree, two Third Team award-winner and Five All-Defensive Team selections over three seasons
- Tenth all-time in Horizon League history with .644 league winning percentage (minimum of three seasons)
- Team currently holds a 3.26 cumulative grade point average and logged eight student-athletes on the CSU Dean's Lists during the Fall 2021 semester
THE GATES RECORD – THREE YEARS AT CSU
- Overall Record: 50-39 (.562)
- NCAA National Tournament Berths (1): 2021
- NCAA NIT Appearances (1): 2022
- Horizon League Regular-Season Titles (2): 2021, 2022
- Horizon League Tournament Titles (1): 2021
- Horizon League Coach of the Year Honors (2): 2020, 2021
- Horizon League Regular-Season: 38-21 (.644)
- Horizon League Tournament: 4-1 (.800)
- Home Record: 30-13 (.698)
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