Martin's pay will be around $300,000, with incentives for special accomplishments of his teams. It includes a $140,000 base salary from MSU, about $70,000 from radio and televison shows, and the rest from private fundraising by the Missouri State Foundation. The total is about $100,000 more than former coach Barry Hinson was paid.

MSU President Mike Nietzel said he and Athletic Director Bill Rowe looked for seven attributes as they evaluated applicants:
1. Stable affiliation with a premier NCAA Division I program known for academic success and strong record of compliance
2. Association with a program that has experienced regular post-season success
3. Evidence of effective recruiting, with an affinity for Midwest talent
4. Knowledge of, and appreciation for, the Missouri Valley Conference
5. Extroverted personality and desire to be a part of the local community
6. Respected and recommended by other coaches for his integrity and intensity
7. Coaching style that included hard-nosed defense and up-tempo offense

Nietzel said Martin "met and exceeded all of these criteria."
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Official biography of Cuonzo Martin from purduesports.com:

Cuonzo Martin is in his eighth year on the Purdue coaching staff.

He was promoted to associate head coach in September of 2007.

After a four-year professional career, Martin completed his bachelor's degree in restaurant, hotel, institutional and tourism management at Purdue in the summer of 2000.

Martin, who graduated from Lincoln High in East St. Louis, Ill., and attended New Hampton Prep School in New Hampshire, came to Purdue in 1991. He finished four years later as one of the finest Boilermaker players ever. He currently ranks 11th on Purdue's all-time scoring list with 1,666 points, good enough for a 13.1 average in his 127 games played.

His best year was his senior season, when he averaged 18.4 points per game while shooting 43.9 percent from the floor, 46.9 percent from three-point range and 79.9 percent from the free throw line.

Martin was an emotional leader for the Boilermakers, as well as a long-distance specialist, compiling a 179-for-390 (.459) mark on three-pointers his last two years after going 0-for-7 from long range his first two seasons. He led the Big Ten in three-point shooting as a senior and was fourth in scoring while helping the Boilermakers to their second of three consecutive outright Big Ten titles. He also was named to Dick Vitale's All-Defensive team in 1995. During Martin's four years, Purdue was 90-37, including 54-12 the last two years, with a pair of conference titles.

Martin played professional basketball for four years, with brief NBA appearances with the Milwaukee Bucks (twice) and Vancouver Grizzlies. He spent most of his playing time in the Continental Basketball Association and Europe. He was team captain and leading scorer for three seasons with the Grand Rapids (Mich.) Hoops and was leading scorer for the Felize Scandone team in Avellino, Italy, in 1997.

Martin and his wife, Roberta, have two sons, Joshua and Chase, and a daughter, Addison.

A Look At Associate Head Coach Cuonzo Martin

Birthdate: Sept. 23, 1971

Hometown: East St. Louis, Ill.

High School: Lincoln

College: Purdue `00 (B.A.)

Wife: Roberta

Children: Joshua, Chase and Addison

Playing Experience:
1991-95 Purdue
1995-1998
NBA- Drafted by the Atlanta Hawks
Vancouver Grizzlies
Milwaukee Bucks
CBA - Grand Rapids
Europe - Avellino, Italy

Coaching Experience
1999-00: West Lafayette H.S., Assistant Coach
2000-2007: Purdue, Assistant Coach
2007-Present: Purdue, Associate Head Coach