Anderson to be next MU coach

~ Multiple published reports say the university will hire the UAB coach.

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The University of Missouri is completing an agreement with Alabama-Birmingham coach Mike Anderson to be its next basketball coach, according to media reports.

All citing unnamed sources, the Columbia Daily Tribune, The Kansas City Star, ESPN.com and STLToday.com, the Web site of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, all reported Saturday that Anderson would be hired to replace former coach Quin Snyder, who resigned in February.

Anderson, 46, was on campus Saturday to meet with athletic director Mike Alden and chancellor Brady Deaton, and an announcement could come as early as today, according to the reports. Contract details were still being worked out Saturday.

Missouri received permission to speak with Anderson earlier in the week. Missouri also asked for permission to speak with Iowa coach Steve Alford, but Alford said he had no plans to interview for other jobs.

Anderson would be the first permanent black head coach in a major sport at Missouri. Interim coach Melvin Watkins replaced Snyder after his resignation.

Anderson is a former assistant to Nolan Richardson at Arkansas and played at Tulsa.

As head coach at UAB for four years, Anderson has an 89-41 record with three NCAA Tournament appearances. UAB was 24-9 this season.