Southern Illinois Salukis head coach Barry Hinson pauses during a free throw on Saturday, March 2, 2019 during the Southern Illinois Salukis' 72-63 win over the Illinois State Redbirds at SIU Arena in Carbondale, Illinois.

ST. LOUIS – Barry Hinson stepped down as head coach of the Southern Illinois Men’s Basketball team following the Salukis’ 61-58 loss to the University of Northern Iowa.

“Last March, the chancellor and I made a pact if we didn’t go to the NIT or the NCAA, it would be time for me to step away,” Hinson said.

Hinson said he is excited for Saluki athletics as the program moves forward under the direction of Jerry Kill.

“I know where it’s headed, I know who’s running the ship now and I know we’ve had a lot of issues on campus there in Carbondale, but those issues are getting ready to go away,” Hinson said.

In his seven seasons at Southern, Hinson put together a 116-111 record. In his first year at SIU, the team finished last in the Valley with a conference record of 6-12. During his tenure at Southern and Missouri State, Hinson was unable to take a team to the NCAA Tournament.

The Salukis’ best finish in the Missouri Valley Conference was last year, coming in second place for regular season-play with an 11-7 record.

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After the 2016 campaign, Hinson was named the MVC Coach of the Year – a year where the team went 22-9 and tied for fourth place in the conference.

In the MVC Tournament, the Salukis saw the most success in 2014, 2017 and 2018 when the team made the semifinal game under Hinson.

Seven players transferred from the program during Hinson’s tenure – four of the seven transferred after the 2015 season.

“I am so sorry. I am so sorry we couldn’t get back to a tournament. It’s haunted me,” Hinson said. “It’s haunted me my entire life. But I’m a man of faith, and my dad taught me a long time ago, I know not what my future holds, but I know who holds my future.”

Hinson made $350,000 per year plus annual increases and incentives. He currently has one year left on his contract with the university and Jerry Kill, SIU Director of Athletics, said he plans on honoring the rest of his contract – approximately a $175,000 buyout.

Kill said he will be traveling across the country in search of a new head basketball coach during a March 11 press conference.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

Sports editor Adam Warfel can be reached at [email protected] and on Twitter at @Warfel_Adam.

Editor in Chief Brian Munoz can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @BrianMMunoz.

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