Missouri

Missouri State AD Kyle Moats makes rare in-season statement on Dana Ford: ‘We expect more’

Published

2 years ago

January 11, 2024

Missouri State AD Kyle Moats makes rare in-season statement on Dana Ford: ‘We expect more’

Missouri State Athletics Director Kyle Moats released a rare in-season statement regarding the men’s basketball program and its head coach following their third-consecutive loss.

Missouri State, which lost 77-53 to Murray State on Wednesday night, has lost two straight games by 24 or more points. The Bears lost 86-60 at Bradley on Saturday.

In a letter addressed to “Bears Fans,” Moats expressed his frustration and said he’s had conversations with sixth-year men’s basketball coach Dana Ford.

More: Missouri State basketball looks broken and has hit its lowest point under Dana Ford

“The last two Bears conference games have not been indicative of the kind of basketball we expect from our Missouri State teams,” Moats wrote. “Like you, I am passionate about our program and share in the frustration that many of you have expressed. We expect more.

“I have spoken to coach Ford, and we both expect changes in all aspects of our team’s performance moving forward. He has spoken about the team’s energy and effort, and we will look to make improvements in those areas as well as toughness on the floor and the results in the standings.

“It is coach Ford’s responsibility to get the players to play at a competitive level. It is my job to continually evaluate the program’s progress to make sure that happens.

“Thank you for your passion and support of Bears basketball, and we look forward to better days ahead. Go Bears!”

More: Missouri State basketball embarrassed by Murray State, drops third straight

Ford is in the second-to-last season of his contract. A buyout would pay him half of the payments due on the remaining months of his deal.

Ford is 98-73 in his six seasons as head coach. The Bears have yet to reach the Arch Madness title game or win a league title under his leadership.

Moats backed Ford in late February before the 2022-23 team’s appearance at Arch Madness saying there was “much to be excited for now and in the future under Coach Ford’s leadership.”

More: Missouri State’s Clif Smart, Kyle Moats on men’s basketball and its game environment

Wyatt D. Wheeler is a reporter and columnist with the Springfield News-Leader. You can contact him at 417-371-6987, by email at wwheeler@news-leader.com or X at @WyattWheeler_NL.

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Missouri

Will Missouri incarcerate its economic future?

Published

9 hours ago

April 17, 2026

Press Room

Will Missouri incarcerate its economic future?

Missouri has hastily passed a sweeping crime bill that moves the state in the wrong direction. The law — signed by Gov. Mike Kehoe — bundles together expanded pathways for certifying adolescents ages 14 to 18 as adults and the expansion and standardization of mandatory minimum sentences. This legislation will push more teenagers into the […]

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Missouri

Two tornadoes confirmed to have struck Clinton on Wednesday evening

Published

21 hours ago

April 17, 2026

Press Room

Two tornadoes confirmed to have struck Clinton on Wednesday evening

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Two separate tornadoes have been confirmed in Clinton, Missouri, from Wednesday evening’s storms by the National Weather Service’s survey crews.

The first tornado was confirmed to be of EF-1 strength. It touched down at 6:03 p.m. just south of Clinton, Missouri, near the Harry S Truman Reservoir. It tracked northeast into the southeastern side of Clinton and strengthened with peak winds of 98 mph. The tornado then weakened to an EF-0 strength before reaching E Clinton St. Its total track length was 2.5 miles.

Two tornadoes were confirmed to have struck Clinton, Missouri, on the evening of April 15, 2026.(KCTV5)

A second tornado was confirmed from the same supercell storm. It had peak winds of 70 mph, with a path length of 1.85 miles from E. Lincoln St to N 6th St. and a width of 30 yards.

Reported damage from these tornadoes included snapped, large tree branches and trunks, loss of siding, and collapsed walls of small buildings.

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Missouri

Bryson Tiller bolts Kansas for rival Missouri after a breakout freshman season

Published

1 day ago

April 16, 2026

Press Room

Bryson Tiller bolts Kansas for rival Missouri after a breakout freshman season

Bryson Tiller is leaving Kansas for bitter rival Missouri after a promising and productive freshman season with the Jayhawks.

The 6-foot-11 forward arrived in Lawrence before the spring semester in 2025 and redshirted before playing last season, when Tiller was a regular in the starting lineup. He averaged 7.9 points and 6.1 rebounds, and one of his best games for Kansas came against the Tigers, when he had 13 points, five rebounds and five blocks in an 80-60 rout at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

Missouri has been active in the transfer portal, landing Tennessee forward Jaylen Carey and Providence forward Jamier Jones.

Tiller visited the Tigers on Sunday and made the decision to join coach Dennis Gates over interest from Michigan, Georgia Tech, NC State, Arizona and others. He visited Miami but canceled a planned visit to Arizona.

Kansas already lost another big man, Flory Bidunga, who decided to transfer to Louisville.

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AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

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