Head coach Dennis Gates and the Missouri Tigers hadn't had the most eventful offseason over the past few months, with few transfers or staff changes. That shifted on Monday, when Gates added a familiar face to the program.
Missouri coach Dennis Gates is hiring Duquesne assistant Steve Wright, source told @TheFieldOf68.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) April 28, 2025
Wright was on Gates’ staff at Cleveland State.
Wright, who previously coached alongside Gates at Cleveland State, has spent time with several NCAA Division I programs. Before joining the Dukes in 2023 — during one of the best seasons in program history — he was also on staff at Bowling Green.
Wright served as the video coordinator at Cleveland State during the 2019-20 season, which was Gates' first year as head coach of the Vikings.
Wright brings a wealth of experience, having coached at the NCAA, junior college, NAIA, high school, and AAU levels. As a player, he was a point guard at Bowling Green and Northern Kentucky before a brief professional career in Germany and Finland, after which he transitioned into coaching.
Wright fills one of two open coaching spots after the Tigers lost a pair of assistants over the past few weeks. Ironically, one of them, Rob Summers, accepted the head coaching job at Cleveland State.
Meanwhile, Charlton Young will join the sidelines as an assistant coach at Miami. It will be interesting to see who Gates and the rest of the program target to replace Young as the offseason continues and summer begins.