Chris Hollender joined Cuonzo Martin’s coaching staff in the role of assistant coach in April 2017, coming to Mizzou from UMKC where he served in the same role. He enters his fifth season at Mizzou. Bringing strong Midwest ties and Southeastern Conference experience to the Black & Gold, he spent three seasons coaching in the SEC at Mississippi State from 2012-15.
In his Hollender's first season in Columbia, Mizzou reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013. The Tigers won 20 games and finished tied for fourth in the SEC. Mizzou battled to the 15-win mark in 2018-19 during an injury-riddled campaign, suffering just four losses to non-NCAA Tournament teams and two losses to teams that didn't reach a postseason.
Hollender helped steer Mizzou to an impressive 2020-21 season, in which the Tigers went 16-10 and secured an NCAA Tournament berth for the second time in four seasons. In 2020-21, Mizzou spent 11 consecutive weeks in the AP Top 25, reaching as high as No. 10 nationally for the first time since Jan. 7, 2013. With Hollender designing most of the offensive schemes, the squad went undefeated in nonconference play, and finished the season with three wins over Top 10 teams (No. 6 Illinois, No. 6 Tennessee and No. 10 Alabama) in the same campaign for the first time since 2011-12. The Tigers finished the regular season as one of 13 teams nationally with seven Quad 1 victories, and totaled a 9-4 record against the 2021 NCAA Tournament field, beating six conference champions along the way.
Hollender, a Mattoon, Illinois, native, starred as a player at Evansville before embarking on his coaching career that landed him stops at Army (2002-09), his alma mater (2009-12), Mississippi State (2012-15) and UMKC (2015-17). At UMKC this past season, the Roos recorded the second-most wins (18) in school history.
During Hollender's tenures at Army, Evansville, Mississippi State and UMKC, each basketball program saw a significant improvement in performance on the court and on the recruiting trail. The 2006-07 Black Knights improved by an astounding 10 wins to a 15-16 record. Hollender's final class he helped recruit to Evansville went on to claim 84 victories over their career. At Mississippi State, Hollender's work included developing All-SEC forward Gavin Ware, who became one of only seven players in MSU history to score at least 1,000 points and grab 800 or more rebounds.
In Hollender’s final season of work at UMKC, the Roos made their first postseason appearance in program history, playing their way to a College Basketball Invitational bid. Known for his work on the offensive end of the court, Hollender helped guide UMKC to program records for points scored (2,691), field goals made (911), rebounds (1,213), three-pointers (315) and free throws (554) in 2016-17.
While in Starkville, Hollender helped bring SEC standout Quinndary Weatherspoon to campus. The Bulldog became a Second Team All-SEC selection in 2016-17 and led MSU in scoring with his 16.5 points per game.
In a three-year stint at his alma mater, Evansville, Hollender recruited the eventual all-time leading scoring in school history, D.J. Balentine. The guard poured in 2,464 points during his four-year career as a Purple Ace.
Prior to returning to Evansville, Hollender enjoyed a seven-year run at Army with head coach Jim Crews.
Hollender was an all-conference player for the Purple Aces in 1998 before turning professional, enjoying a stint in Europe with Bremerhaven of Germany. While with the Bremerhaven Ice Dogs, Hollender teamed with former Mizzou standouts Doug Smith and Derek Grimm for a division title.
After the trophy run in Germany, Hollender returned to the United States to play in the Continental Basketball Association from 1999-2002 before beginning his coaching career. During his time in CBA, he played for the St. Louis Swarm
Hollender earned a degree in marketing from Evansville in 1998. He and his wife, Kathryn, have a son, Jackson, and twin daughters, Madeline and Elyse.
