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| School Name: | Missouri State University |
| Location: | Springfield, Missouri |
| Arena: | Great Southern Bank Arena |
| Capacity: | 11,000 |
| Conference: | Missouri Valley (CUSA in 2025) |
| Head coach: | Cuonzo Martin |
Missouri State University (previously known as Southwest Missouri State) is home to the Missouri State Bears. is a state university located in Springfield, Missouri. It is the state's second largest university in student enrollment, second only to the University of Missouri. From 1972 to 2005, MSU was known as Southwest Missouri State University. MSU was granted a statewide mission in Public Affairs in 1995. The name was changed in 2005 to reflect this mission. In addition to its main campus, it has a two-year branch campus in West Plains, a research campus in Mountain Grove, and various programs in China.
The Missouri State Bears and Lady Bears are the athletic teams representing Missouri State University. Missouri State (formerly Southwest Missouri State University) athletics date back to 1908. Missouri State is in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, and most teams compete in the Missouri Valley Conference. The exceptions are the teams in the NCAA "emerging women's sports" of acrobatics & tumbling and stunt, both being added in 2024–25, which compete as independents; the women's beach volleyball team (Conference USA, or CUSA); and the football team (Missouri Valley Football Conference, which is separate from the MVC).
In the 2024–25 school year, Missouri State will start to transition its football team from the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), the second tier of NCAA Division I football, to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). After that school year, Missouri State will become a full member of CUSA.
Men's Basketball[]
Head Coaches[]
- W.A. Daggett - (2 seasons, 11-9), 1908-1910
- Corliss Buchanan - (1 season, 13-8), 1910-1911
- No team - 1911-1913
- Arthur Briggs - (9 seasons, 105-31), 1913-1918, 1919-1923
- Paul Andrews - (1 season, 2-4), 1918-1919
- Chester Barnard - (1 season, 13-1), 1923-1924
- Donald Holwerda - (1 season, 9-6), 1924-1925
- Andrew McDonald - (23 seasons, 301-166), 1925-1943, 1945-1950
- No team - 1943-1945
- Bob Vanatta - (3 seasons, 73-11), 1950-1953, 2-time NAIA Champions
- Edwin Mathews - (11 season, 164-91), 1953-1964, NCAA Division II Runners-up
- Bill Thomas - (16 seasons, 265-158), 1964-1980, 3-time NCAA Division II Runners-up
- Bob Cleeland - (3 seasons, 39-46), 1980-1983
- Charlie Spoonhour - (9 seasons, 197-81), 1983-1992, 5 NCAA Tournament Appearances
- Mark Bernsen - (3 seasons, 48-37), 1992-1995
- Steve Alford - (4 seasons, 78-48), 1995-1999, 1 NCAA Sweet 16 Appearance
- Barry Hinson - (8 seasons, 152-100), 1999-Present
Retired Numbers[]
- 22 - Winston Garland - 1985-1987
- 43 - Jerry Anderson - 1951-1955
- 54 - Curtis Perry - 1966-1970
Women's Basketball[]
Head Coaches[]
- Reba Sims - (10 seasons, 129-116), 1969-1979
- Marti Gasser - (4 seasons, 62-60), 1979-1983
- Valerie Goodwin-Colbert - (4 seasons, 48-63), 1983-1987
- Cheryl Burnett - (15 seasons, 319-136), 1987-2002, 10 NCAA Tournament Appearances, 2 Final Four Appearances
- Katie Abrahamson-Henderson - (5 seasons, 95-61), 2002-2007, 3 NCAA Tournament Appearances
- Nyla Milleson - (0 seasons, 0-0), 2007-present
Retired Numbers[]
- 10 - Jackie Stiles - 1997-2001
- 35 - Melody Howard - 1990-1994
- 42 - Jeanette Tendai - 1982-1986