COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Frank Haith has heard the criticism that Missouri settled for a safe choice rather than a home-run hire for its new head coach.
After years leading a Miami basketball program at a football-first school with little fan interest and plenty of other south Florida distractions, Haith welcomes both the added scrutiny and the heightened interest in his fortunes.
"I spent seven years at Miami and had trouble getting into my office because they didn't recognize me," he said jokingly on Tuesday at his introductory press conference. "I know I'm in a different place. I know they care."
The former Big 12 assistant at Texas and Texas A&M returns to a pared-down conference that will only get tougher next season with the departures of basketball also-rans Nebraska and Colorado for the Big Ten and Pac-10, respectively.
He replaces Mike Anderson, who left Missouri after five seasons, three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances and a school-best 77 wins over the past three seasons. Anderson was hired late last month at Arkansas, where he spent 17 years as a Nolan Richardson assistant.
Without prompting, Haith quickly acknowledged the initial reaction from some Missouri faithful who questioned his record at Miami and had hoped athletic director Mike Alden would make a bigger splash with the hire.
Haith went 129-101 in seven seasons with the Hurricanes, including 21-15 this season, when they played in the NIT. The Hurricanes went 43-69 in the Atlantic Coast Conference under Haith and made the NCAA tournament once, losing in the second round in 2008. Their best conference mark under Haith was 8-8.
"I don't look at the negativity I'm hearing so far as a negative," he said. "That's why I'm here. I want that passion."
The 45-year-old Haith spent three years as an assistant at Texas, four years as an assistant at both Texas A&M and Wake Forest and had stints at Penn State, Elon College and North Carolina-Wilmington. He took over at Miami in his first head coaching job in 2004.
Alden cited Haith's recruiting skills and familiarity "with the footprint of the Big 12" as key elements in his decision. Missouri has three available scholarships for next season and will have six open slots in two years.
Haith will earn $1.5 million annually in a five-year deal, with $100,000 in deferred annual compensation and an automatic one-year contract extension effective May 1, 2012.
Alden tried last week to lure Matt Painter, but the Purdue coach instead signed a contract extension. He said Monday that Haith was the only person offered the job.
After Painter's decision, fans, boosters and alumni remained hopeful that Missouri could lure a rising star such as Virginia Commonwealth's Shaka Smart, who agreed to a new contract that was announced Monday; or a proven commodity such as Minnesota's Tubby Smith, who reportedly passed on Missouri's overtures over the weekend.
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