Office of University Communications 

Missouri State University to make basketball coaching change

SPRINGFIELD — Missouri State University has made a men's basketball coaching change.

After nine years, Coach Barry Hinson and university officials have “reached an understanding” that the program needs to go in a different direction. Missouri State Director of Athletics Bill Rowe made the announcement at a news conference today (Sunday, March 9) in Hammons Student Center.

“We have talked with Coach Hinson in recent weeks,” said Rowe, “and it has become apparent to all of us that it is time for a change. We very much appreciate everything Coach Hinson, his family, staff and his players have done for Missouri State and the Springfield community. We wish him well in his future endeavors.”

In accordance with his contract, Hinson will receive a cancellation payment of $150,000.  The annual contracts for his assistants expire on June 30, 2008.

A national search for a new coach will begin immediately and conclude as soon as possible, Rowe said. Rowe said the university will enhance the compensation package to be more competitive in the Missouri Valley Conference.  

Hinson’s overall record at Missouri State was 169-117 in nine years, with four NIT appearances. His teams had back-to-back 22-win seasons in 2005-06 and 2006-07, with Top 40 RPIs both years.  

Going into this season, 23 of the 26 Bear players who had completed their eligibility as seniors under Hinson have received their undergraduate degrees. Fifteen of Hinson’s Bears have gone on to play professionally in the United States or overseas.

“In the post-game press conference, I quoted Harry Truman who said the buck stops here,” said Hinson, who was not at the Sunday news conference. “I was unable to deliver an NCAA Tournament berth, and the buck stops with me. I am disappointed that we did not accomplish that most of all for the players, fans and supporters of Bears basketball.

“We accomplished a lot over the past nine years. We won a lot of games, our players graduated, and we had some of the best RPIs in the country. But that’s just part of the business of Division I athletics.

“It has been a great privilege and honor for me to coach for a university that I love and admire. And it has been an honor to coach in the Missouri Valley Conference.”

Hinson came to Missouri State after two years as head coach at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa where his teams finished 19-12 and 17-11. Hinson’s 11-year college coaching record is 205-140.

Nietzel, who also spoke at the news conference, said the success of the university’s athletics program, and its individual sports, would continue to be evaluated based on five goals:  1) academic record of student-athletes, 2) athletic competitiveness and success, 3) integration into campus and university culture, 4) financial stability, and 5) compliance with NCAA, conference and university rules and policies.

“This year, we didn’t meet some of our expectations,” said Nietzel. “A lot of factors go into evaluating a season, but we had hoped for and expected better results.

“As Bill Rowe indicated, we came to an understanding that a change was advisable at this time. That does not diminish the many contributions that Coach Hinson has made to the Bears basketball program and the entire university. He has been an excellent representative for MSU and this community, and so I personally regret that we reached a point where we believed a change was necessary.”