Robert Corn returns for his 19th season at the helm of the men. A 1978 graduate of Southern and the all-time winningest coach in Lions basketball history, he has led Southern to six 20-win seasons. Corn was honored as 2000 MIAA Coach of the Year, NABC South Central Regional Coach of the Year, and Division II Bulletin National Coach of the Year following a 30-3 season in which the Lions advanced to the NCAA-II Elite Eight semifinals. Corn is ninth on the all-time MIAA wins list and fourth among active MIAA coaches. He has led the Lions to 12 appearances in the MIAA Tournament, including the last nine years in a row.

Maryann Mitts is in her seventh season with the Lions and has led the team to six-straight winning campaigns. Mitts holds a 180-128 career mark, including 98 wins at Southern. The Lions have recorded 15 or more wins in five of the six years Mitts has led them and have been a part of the MIAA Tournament each year under her direction. Mitts ranks third among coaching victories at Missouri Southern, trailing Scott Ballard by just four games for second place.

The men return five players and welcome in 12 solid newcomers to this year's squad, while the women return seven letterwinners and add in six talented newcomers.

Both teams will open the season with Division I exhibitions on the road. The women travel to Arkansas on November 4th, while the men are at Tulsa on the 5th. Both will open up the home schedule with an exhibition against Livin' The Dream on November 10.