Sponsored by: UMKC Athletics
University of Missouri – Kansas City (UMKC) Athletics is an NCAA Division I member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and Kansas City’s only Division I team. UMKC Athletics has sixteen sports and 240-plus student-athletes, champions both on and off the field with a department cumulative GPA of 3.31 and four conference championships in the past two years.
The Volker Campus is located in the heart of Kansas City, just south of the Country Club Plaza, creating the ideal setting for a unique collegiate sports experience. The athletics program prides itself on empowering future leaders with the skills to make an impact in the community, all while positioning athletes to compete at the highest level in every sport to win collegiate championships for Kansas City.
The UMKC men’s basketball program is led by head coach Kareem Richardson. Richardson came to the Kangaroos (often shortened to “‘Roos”) from the University of Louisville, where he served as the assistant coach under legendary coach Rick Pitino. He helped lead the Cardinals to a Big East Championship and a National Championship in the 2012-13 season.
Coach Richardson joined the program in March 2013, bringing new energy and expertise to the team. Richardson’s addition paid dividends almost immediately, as his second season in Kansas City generated several program firsts. The 8-6 WAC record was the team’s first above-.500 season since 2005-06, and its second place finish matched the highest ever in league play. UMKC finished with a 6-1 WAC home record, the best in school history in league play. The ‘Roos picked up a win in the WAC Tournament, the first for UMKC in the postseason since 2007.
The 2016-2017 season promises to be an exciting year. Six players are slated to return, including senior guards and Preseason All-WAC Teams selections, Martez Harrison and LaVell Boyd. The team will play all home games in Downtown Kansas City inside the historic Municipal Auditorium, featuring a 17-game home schedule with visits from Drake, New Mexico State and NCAA tournament team CSU-Bakersfield.
Find out more about Roos' Basketball here: http://www.umkckangaroos.com/
