Missouri’s basketball program has taken a decisive step toward reshaping its staff for the upcoming 2026‑27 campaign, naming four new assistants who will join head coach Dennis Gates on the bench.
Strategic Additions
Jason Crowe Sr. will serve as an assistant focused on player development, while Zach Reynolds, who previously coached at Zephyrhills Christian Academy and mentored incoming five‑star forward Toni Bryant, brings a direct connection to one of the nation’s most coveted freshmen.
Jimmie Foster, a longtime mid‑major assistant whose résumé includes guiding five NBA draft picks — Alec Brown, Alfonzo McKinnie, Keifer Sykes, Malevy Leons and Jayson Kent — will take charge of the post players, adding interior expertise.
Tavaras Hardy, the former head coach at Loyola (Md.) and now the team’s offensive coordinator, contributes play‑calling acumen that Gates believes will define the Tigers’ attacking scheme.
The roster overhaul adds six transfer portal athletes, including Kansas forward Bryson Tiller and Tennessee big man Jaylen Carey, complementing the return of 7‑foot‑5 center Trent Burns and giving the squad a sizeable presence in the paint.
With a transfer portal class ranked 12th nationally by 247Sports and a full 15‑player roster, head coach Dennis Gates expressed confidence that the blend of seasoned coaching and a loaded lineup could finally propel Missouri toward a championship‑contending season.