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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri men’s basketball’s final assistant coach opening is going to a familiar face.

David “Dickey” Nutt will reprise his role as one of the Tigers’ assistant coaches after spending the past year working for the program in a different capacity as he successfully fought cancer.

Nutt had been an assistant for Mizzou from the start of head coach Dennis Gates’ tenure in Columbia. He stepped away from his coaching duties in February 2024 after a cancer diagnosis but was declared cancer-free in October. Nutt spent last season as an assistant to the head coach and senior advisor — still around the team and coaching staff, but not in a full-blown format.

With two staff openings this offseason, Gates hired Steve Wright from Duquesne and brought Nutt back up to assistant coach.

“We couldn’t be happier to welcome Coach Nutt back to an on-court coaching position as a full-time assistant,” Gates said in a statement. “His experience and basketball knowledge make him a huge asset to our program and his familiarity with our players and team allows him to make an immediate impact this season. Coach Nutt is a fighter in every sense of the (word) and after his biggest victory yet, we’re thrilled to have him back as an assistant as we compete to win titles on the court.”

“I am more excited than ever to return to an on-court position as an assistant and going on my ninth season with Coach Dennis Gates,” Nutt said in a statement. “Coach Gates is a tremendous leader and I am honored and humbled not only to work alongside him but our entire basketball staff. I can’t wait for the return of our team next month.”