$475,000

That is the salary the new basketball coach, who has never had a head coaching position, gets out of the gate at SIUC. About $75,000 a year more than Barry Hinson was receiving.

Debate Team Follow Up

Following up on yesterday's post about the SIUC debate team, it is rather a shame that the university does not choose to devote more resources to supporting the debate team, given how well it consistently preforms at the national level as compared to say, the basketball team, which has not made an appearance at the national level since 2008.

However, the university keeps tossing resources at the athletic department, while cutting them from debate, indicating where priorities at the university remain

New Basketball Coach?

KFVS12 says the new basketball coach is Barry Hinson, director of Men's Basketball Operations at the University of Kansas

Weber In?

Apparently rumors are floating about that U of I may release Bruce Weber after the end of the season and that, if so, SIUC may recruit him to take over the basketball program here.

Whoever is hired, they won't get anything like the money that Lowrey received, given that attendance at basketball games has dropped over 50% since the high of 7743 back in 2007, indicating that Saluki fans are comparatively fickle, willing to come out in support of the team when it does well but abandoning it in droves after 4 losing seasons.

Lowery Out

According to this report, Chris Lowrey was fired this morning at basketball coach at SIUC. With 2 years still remaining on his contract, I have to wonder, given the cash strapped status of the university, where are they going to come up with the $1.5 million needed to buy him out of the contract. Makes me wonder if there is some sort of performance clause buried in it, though I haven't heard any mention of one.

SIUC Basketball Relevant?

The Kalamazoo Gazette asks why the Salukis have lost their edge.