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Heiar for hire: How a controversial coach was given another chance in Missouri

A series of controversies surrounded the New Mexico State men's basketball program within months of head coach Greg Heiar's introductory press conference. The range of affairs — including a shooting death and a subsequent hazing scandal — were egregious enough for administrators to pull the plug on the Aggies' season before their conference tournament.

Heair was fired in February to conclude the historically turbulent campaign, five years after applying for the same job at Missouri State.

His career and reputation blemished, Heiar pressed forward when recently submitting his resume to another public Missouri institution. The interest was mutual, and it has come with mixed reactions.