New MU men’s basketball coach Mike Anderson unveiled his new coaching staff of Wednesday, and to no one’s surprise, former MU interim head coach and assistant Melvin Watkins was on it. News of Watkins being retained in Columbia broke earlier this week when the high school coach of Keon Lawrence, who was recruited by Watkins, told Powermizzou.com that he talked to Anderson and Watkins who confirmed that Watkins would be back. Lawrence, who was an all-state selection in New Jersey this season, verbally committed to MU but backed off that commitment until he was sure Watkins would be on the staff.

Watkins went 2-5 after taking over the Missouri basketball team when Quin Snyder resigned on February 10.

The other two members, Matt Zimmerman and T.J. Cleveland, were on Anderson’s staff at the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

Zimmerman was a high school coach and administrator in Arkansas before taking an assistant job with Anderson at UAB. He worked with Anderson for three seasons as a head manager and student assistant at the University of Arkansas from 1987-1990. He then spent five years in the U.S. Army. Anderson was a long-time assistant at Arkansas.

Cleveland, who is Anderson’s nephew, played under his Uncle Mike from 1998-2002 at the University of Arkansas. After that, Cleveland was the video coordinator at Arkansas and performed the same duties at UAB, before being named an assistant before the 2005-2006 season.

Listen below to Missourinet Sports Director, David Sprague’s, interview wtih MU assistant Melvin Watkins.