COLUMBIA, Mo. - Interim Chancellor Hank Foley, Director of Athletics Jim Sterk and hundreds of Mizzou fans gathered in Mizzou Arena on Monday afternoon to welcome new Mizzou Men's Basketball head coach Cuonzo Martin to the Mizzou family. Martin, an East St. Louis native, has averaged 20.7 wins in nine seasons as a head coach, leading his teams' to the postseason seven times over the last eight years. The event was filled with excitement and optimism, as the Tigers' fan based looked toward the future of Mizzou Basketball.

"Today, we're able to check all of the boxes needed to develop a championship level program with the hiring of Cuonzo Martin," Sterk said. "Cuonzo, from the very start, looked like a great fit for the Mizzou community and our basketball program. I was looking for someone with passion, integrity, and experience. Cuonzo has been molded by his challenges in each step of his life and is strengthened, developed and prepared to lead this basketball program in this time of our history."

Martin was quick to express just how much this job, program and community mean to him.

"This is a special day for me," Martin said. "It just feels like home. This is one of those days that as you begin your coaching career, you start thinking 'Will I ever get a chance to coach at a place like Mizzou?' Now, to be home, it's a tremendous feeling. As you all know, I'm a Midwest guy and to be at home amongst family, friends, loved ones and supporters throughout the state of Missouri is a great feeling for me."

Martin has spent three years at each of his last three schools, but made it known that he felt Mizzou was more than just another stop on his coaching path. He hopes that Mizzou will be the final destination in his coaching career.

"Every opportunity I've had as a coach, I felt like that was an opportunity to do my job," Martin said. "I feel like the most important part, is that you're hired to do your job and to do it to the best of your ability. It wasn't like I was seeking opportunities, but when this came about again, and when it presented itself, when I prayed through things, it seemed this was probably it for me if it works out. If Mizzou keeps me for 20 years, then it's my plan to be here for 20 years, this is it for me."

Martin went on to elaborate, saying Mizzou has the facilities, fan base, resources and leadership needed to be successful. A sentiment reflected by sophomore forward Kevin Puryear (Blue Springs, Mo.).

"Coach Martin has a great reputation," Puryear said. "Everybody that has been associated with him has said that. He's a great guy and I trust everything that he's doing and I trust everything that he believes in. Seeing his hard work and commitment to this program, I'm really excited. I knew he was a great coach. Of course, he's going to get us to that level. Of course he's going to push us to be the best players that we can be and do everything that he can to help us succeed."

Sophomore guard Terrence Phillips (Orange County, Calif.) added to the sense of optimism in the arena. He knew Martin from when he was being recruited out of high school and believes that he was the right hire to bring about a quick turnaround.

"We spoke on the phone the day he accepted the job," Phillips said. "His first question to me was, 'Are you still that leader that I recruited out of high school?' And, I told him I was and I think I am a better leader than what I was then. His next question was what was our confidence was like. I told him, honestly, even with our record, our confidence is really high. We gave ourselves chances in a lot of games this year. I told him he was inheriting a great group of guys with a lot of confidence. With his passion and his fire, we could do some amazing things here. Hopefully, next year, we can really get going."

Martin echoed Phillips' thoughts on the upcoming season, saying that he felt strongly that the team could turn things around not just three or four years down the road, but right away.

"We have a new slate here. I don't know what the record was last year, but they lost a lot of close games. Anytime you beat Vanderbilt by 20 and then things happen, but it means you are good enough. We need to improve our confidence and get bigger, stronger and faster. There is work to be done. I haven't looked at anyone else in the league and what they have or don't have because I am consumed with our team. We have a chance to be successful and I am not in the business of waiting three or four years. We have to work to get it done because if you are physical enough to do it then we need to get it done, no ifs, ands or buts about it."

Martin went on to say that his next steps will be meeting with the players over the next few days, before heading out on the road to recruit.

For all the latest on Mizzou Men's Basketball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team at @MizzouHoops (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook).