Duke assistant takes crack at Missouri job

The school is hoping Duke assistant Quin Snyder, a boyish 32-year-old hired to a five-year contract on Wednesday, will relate to players his predecessor might have driven away in the past. Unlike Stewart, who resigned under pressure six days earlier after 32 seasons - saying his style was not to be a social worker - Snyder believes the coach-player relationship doesn't have to be adversarial.

He said the same thing to his players in an informal first chat a few minutes before a campus news conference.

"I told them I'll treat them with respect and I know they'll treat me with respect," Snyder said. "I hope I can be many things to them. Yes, I hope I'm their friend. Being their friend doesn't preclude you from disciplining them."

Players liked what they heard, and gave their new leader a standing ovation, along with the rest of the fans in attendance at the news conference.

Freshman point guard Keyon Dooling, who clashed with Stewart last season and considered transferring, didn't attend Stewart's farewell news conference. He was all smiles Wednesday.

"You could feel the vibes," Dooling said. "There were a number of good vibes."

For another freshman, center Pat Schumacher, the generation gap had suddenly dissolved.

"Maybe he knows some of our music," Schumacher said. "That would be pretty cool."

Snyder is the youngest coach in the Big 12, and one of the youngest in the nation. But Missouri athletic director Mike Alden didn't mind that Snyder has no head-coaching experience, and the former Duke point guard - only 10 years removed from his playing career - believes his youth can be an advantage.

He's also proved himself as the top assistant and recruiting coordinator the last four years under Mike Krzyzewski at one of the nation's perennial powers. Duke lost in the NCAA championship game this season.

Snyder heeded advice from Krzyzewski, whom he called his mentor, and sought a school "worthy of my passion."

He also had been considered by Vanderbilt, San Diego State and Notre Dame, but knew he'd made the right choice when he surveyed the adoring crowd.

"Seeing this here today, I'm convinced it's my turn to show you I'm worthy of your passion," he said.

Krzyzewski, who underwent hip replacement surgery on Sunday, said during the Final Four he felt Snyder was ready to become a head coach.

"I have had incredible high expectations for him as a player, then a coach, and as a friend," Krzyzewski said. "He has surpassed my expectations in every way."

Snyder doesn't exactly inherit a team on the skids. Missouri was 20-9 last season and lost to New Mexico in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

But the previous three seasons signaled the end for Stewart, who was a combined 51-47 in that period. Another sign he'd lost touch because of his gruff demeanor: in the last five years, nine players have transferred.

Stewart, who has been involved in more than half of Missouri's games in 41 years as a player, assistant coach and head coach, was not consulted about the hire and did not attend the news conference. Alden said Stewart was at his winter home in Palm Springs, Calif.

Other finalists were John Calipari, recently fired by the New Jersey Nets, and Bill Self of Tulsa. Longtime Stewart assistant Kim Anderson also was interviewed.

It's no coincidence the hire came on the first day of the late signing period, which continues through May 15. Missouri is hoping to close the deal on three top recruits.

Snyder was respectful of his predecessor, to a point.

"What an unbelievable job he did," Snyder said. "I'm very fortunate to have an opportunity to be his successor, to hopefully build on that foundation that his sweat and hard work laid."

On the other hand, Stewart's half-court offense is headed for the history pages along with the coach who rolled up 634 victories at Missouri.

"I want to see us push the ball," Snyder said. "I want to run. Can we run, guys?"

04-09-99