Missouri has reportedly asked head coach Kim Anderson to step down as men's basketball coach after just three seasons. Anderson, 61, took over the head coaching duties in 2014 after former Missouri coach Frank Haith left for the Tulsa opening.

According to ESPN.com, Anderson went a disappointing 19-44 in his first two seasons with the Tigers, then followed that up with a dismal 7-23 record this past season. The school claimed that he was asked to leave right at the end of the season, but he can still coach in the upcoming SEC tournament.

Missouri athletic director Jim Sterk has said in a recent statement that is has been very difficult for him, personally, because of the tremendous respect that he had for Kim Anderson. "The hardships that he and his staff have worked towards turning the program around over the last three years has been noticed, however, the lack of on-court success has resulted in a significant decline in interest surrounding our program, and the team could not afford for that to continue."

With the departure of Kim Anderson, the school has been gauging the interest of potential candidates for the past few weeks, as per sources. California's Cuonzo Martin is among the top names on their list, while Dan Parker & Associates have been tasked to handle the search for a replacement.

According to Sports Illustrated, Anderson played his college ball at Missouri, before committing to go pro and being drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1977. He has also spent some time playing in Italy and France during his playing days.

Anderson was also an assistant at Missouri on two separate occasions before officially becoming the head coach at Central Missouri for 12 seasons, where he won a D-II national championship in 2014. The school has recently hired Dan Parker to assist with the school's search for its next basketball head coach.

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