Saint Louis head men’s basketball coach Travis Ford announced that Corey Tate has been promoted to associate head coach.
“I am excited to name Corey as associate head coach,” Ford said. “Over the last four years, he has played a big role in helping us re-energize and rebuild our program. I look forward to continuing to work side by side with him as we aim to make Team Blue a consistent top-20 program. Corey is not only a great recruiter and great coach, but he is someone I trust and consider a close friend as well.”
“I would first like to thank Coach Ford, Chris May and the rest of the University administration for affording me this opportunity,” Tate said. “We are building something very special here, and it’s an honor to be a part of Team Blue and to work with this great staff and our players. Not many people get the chance to coach in their hometown, and I don’t take it for granted. I want to make our community proud and continue to build a program all of St. Louis will be proud of. Let’s get to work.”
Tate was hired at SLU prior to Ford’s first year and has been a member of the staff ever since. He has helped the Billikens improve their A-10 win total each season, and SLU has posted back-to-back 23-win seasons. In 2018-19, the Billikens won the Atlantic 10 Conference Championship title and earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament. Prior to last season being canceled due to COVID-19, the Billikens were on a five-game winning streak and were one of the hottest teams in the country.
Tate came to Saint Louis after one season as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Missouri, in 2015-16. Prior to his stint at Mizzou, Tate served as head coach of the Brad Beal Elite/St. Louis Eagles under-17 Nike EYBL team.
Tate spent 11 seasons and amassed more than 250 wins as head coach at Mineral Area College, helping the Cardinals win three NJCAA Region 16 championships and six conference championships. He was named the conference’s Coach of the Year twice and was named the Region 16 Coach of the Year in 2005-06.
Tate, who prepped at Pattonville High School, grew up just blocks from the SLU campus. After playing one season at Mineral Area, he transferred to Missouri and played three years (1994-97) under head coach Norm Stewart. There, he made one of the greatest shots in Mizzou history when he knocked down a jumper late in double OT to lift the Tigers past No. 1 Kansas in 1997.
