MVC – The End of An Era

Barry Hinson Steps Down at Southern Illinois

(St. Louis, MO) – It is an end of an era.

“It’s time for me to step away,” said Barry Hinson. The long time Missouri Valley Conference coach spent nine years at Missouri State and the last seven seasons at Southern Illinois. A winner of 285 Valley games and a Valley advocate. Hinson felt like it was time to leave.

SIU saw their season end as they dropped a narrow (61-58) quarterfinal decision to Northern Iowa. The Salukis finish the season with a record of 17-15 and 10-8 in Valley play. Hinson’s team has finished in the top four in conference play four straight years.

Hinson alluded to a commitment he made with SIU administration that if the team didn’t go to the NIT or NCAA tournaments it would be time for him to ‘step away’. They didn’t and he did.

The owner of 321 Division 1 wins insisted he enjoyed this season and that he’s excited about the direction and leadership of new Athletic Director Jerry Kill.

Hinson loves the Missouri Valley Conference

“I’ve been blessed to be a part of this conference for 16 years,” said Hinson.  “There’s nobody that loves the Valley more than I do. I’ve made great friends, and these coaches in this league that I’ve made over my 16 years, will be lifelong friends.”

In the end it was that elusive invitation to the NCAA Tournament that caused Hinson to resign. Hinson whose Missouri State team was unfairly left out of the 2006 NCAA Tournament despite a 21 RPI, never led an MVC team to March Madness. He was 15-and-16 at Arch Madness and was named the Valley Coach of the Year just three seasons ago.

The emotional Hinson asked those of us at the press conference to quote him on one specific thing. He wanted to apologize for not guiding the Salukis into the NCAA Tournament.

“I’d like for you to quote me on this,” said Hinson. “I am sorry. I am so sorry that we couldn’t back to a tournament. It’s haunted me. It’s haunted me my entire life. But I’m a man of faith, and my dad taught me long time ago, ‘I know not what my future holds, but I know Who holds my future.'”

In the win-or-else atmosphere of college athletics Hinson and SIU leadership had open conversations about his future. So it is the end of an era at SIU.

Sad But Grateful

Hinson bragged on Valley Commissioner Doug Elgin and how the Valley community rallied around him during tragedy in his life.

People close to Barry Hinson tell me that he may have resigned even if his team went to the national tournament this year. There was some tension around the program. Armon Fletcher underwent a midseason suspension. The 6’5 senior rallied after the suspension to be named to the league’s second team all-conference team.

Hinson is one of the most entertaining, passionate and kind men in the business. His advocacy of the league, his players and whatever university he was working for was always full hearted. I spoke with Barry Hinson many times and respect him greatly.

The Missouri Valley is weaker tonight as Barry steps away. He wore his emotions on his sleeve and rooted for his players openly. He spoke Thursday of weeping over guard Marcus Bartley’s Academic All-American award last year.

Even during the Fletcher suspension there was never a word from Hinson as to why the senior was suspended. Hinson preferred to protect his player and take the heat for the disciplinary action and let the chips fall where they would.

I have no inside information about where SIU will look for a new coach, but one logical candidate would be Loyola Associate Head Coach Bryan Mullins. He was a standout guard during the Salukis glory years of the early and mid 2000s.

It’s an end of an era in the Missouri Valley. It is a sad end of an era for this reporter.

We wish Barry Hinson the very best. There are great gigs out there available to him.

Barry, don’t be a stranger.

Do Good