Mizzou Athletics' Zou to You tour makes its penultimate stop in Columbia

North of 150 supporters of Mizzou Athletics attended Wednesday evening's Zou to You event at The Kitchen Grill & Games in Columbia. It was the 13th stop on a tour for the Mizzou Athletics staff that has been fostering community among the teams and their fans with similar events across the state and beyond since June 2.

The restaurant's outdoor space was filled with toddlers, seniors and everyone in between, with nearly all of them in the school's black and gold. The children spent their time at the ping pong table and posing for pictures with Truman the Tiger. Their parents ate and spoke with the coaches as athletes in Mizzou polo shirts played cornhole and pickleball with one another. 

At around 8:45 p.m., longtime Mizzou broadcaster Mike Kelly took the stage and drew the crowd's attention. After giving thanks to the attendees and to athletic director Laird Veatch, he invited Mizzou men's basketball coach Dennis Gates and his players up to introduce themselves. 

"I just want to thank our guys for believing in me, believing in the staff, believing in our staff and obviously for believing in our institution," Gates said. "I just appreciate the human beings that have decided to call Mizzou home and decided to call me their head coach."

Many of the players on Gates' roster also spoke highly of their relationships with him. 

"I chose to stay at Missouri because of Coach Gates," said Trent Burns, a center who's returning to Mizzou for his third season. "Just the relationship he built with me and my family; he cares about me as a person."

Freshman Jason Crowe Jr., the No. 1-ranked point guard in the Class of 2026, cited Gates as the reason he chose Mizzou as well.

Trent Pierce is returning to Mizzou for his fourth year. Last season, only one rotational player in the SEC did the same. 

"What Trent Pierce has elected to do, I think, is a reflection of this guy and his staff," said Kelly, gesturing toward Gates, "but also of all of you as well," he then said to the fans. 

Harper discusses first season as MU coach

Mizzou women's basketball coach Kellie Harper was welcomed to the stage next to speak on the program's 2025-26 season, her first with the Tigers, and the future.

"Obviously, not many coaches are gonna end the year satisfied with where they were," Harper said. "You always want more." 

Despite the team's .500 record on the season, it earned an invite to the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament in March.

"It wasn't the NCAA Tournament, but it was a postseason tournament, and we were able to get a win," Harper said. "That hadn't happened in a while, and it needed to happen for the growth of our program."

Harper attributed the return of star player Grace Slaughter, who led the team with 18.7 points per game last season, to the Mizzou community. 

"She loves Mizzou," Harper said. "She bleeds gold. This is her family. You are her family."

The team's five incoming freshmen and three transfers are expected to bring youthful energy and new contributions next season.

Mizzou coaches preview looming seasons

Mizzou football assistant head coach Al Pogue followed Harper. He introduced a few of the squad's new players, including edge rusher Kamauryn Morgan, defensive tackle Mark Hensley and wide receiver Caleb Goodie.

"I'm from Labadie, Missouri, and I play defensive tackle here," Hensley said. "A big reason why I chose Mizzou is because I grew up a Mizzou fan."

Gymnastics coach Shannon Welker, coming off a season in which Mizzou was ranked 11th in the nation, also spoke about his program's additions. 

"One of the top recruiting classes in the nation," Welker.said. "No. 5 in the nation, and we have the No. 1 recruit in the country coming to Missouri."

He also expects that the program's recent move from the Hearnes Center to Mizzou Arena will bode well for its future. 

"We love the Hearnes. It's historic," Welker said. "But Mizzou Arena obviously allows us to engage our fans, and its also great for TV and recruiting and just a little bit of confidence for our young women."

Mizzou baseball coach Kerrick Jackson introduced right-handed pitchers Sam Rosand and Eli Skidmore before breaking down the team's motto: N.O.W.

"N.O.W. stands for No Opportunity Wasted," Jackson said. "No matter what the circumstances are, we are never going to be a victim of our own circumstance. You have the opportunity. Go out and kill it."

Kelly then greeted Mizzou wrestling coach Brian Smith by jokingly getting into a stance. Smith has high hopes for the upcoming season.

"We have a good team coming back," Smith said. "We have two returning All-Americans. in the portal, we picked up an All-American and a kid that lost in the All-American round."

Mizzou women's golf coach Caroline Westrup Gaeta, whose extension through the 2030-31 season was just announced Wednesday, coached the Tigers to a 12th-place finish at the NCAA Championships in May. One of her players, senior Addy Dobson, competed against the world's best in the U.S. Women's Open earlier this month. 

Director of swimming & diving Andrew Grevers, cross country coach Kyle Levermore and softball pitcher Marissa McCann also spoke excitedly of their respective programs.