Bruce Weber is headed to Manhattan, Kan., and plans to bring former SIU men’s basketball coach Chris Lowery with him as an assistant coach.

Weber was hired by Kansas State on Saturday, following coach Frank Martin’s decision to leave for the same position at the University of South Carolina.

Weber told the Kansas City Star via text message Sunday that he was working through the details to finalize a deal with Lowery, the Star reported.

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The two coaches are close friends and worked together on the Saluki coaching staff from 2001 to 2003. During that span, SIU attained a 52-15 cumulative record and reached back-to-back NCAA tournaments, including a Sweet 16 visit in 2002.

When Weber left SIU in 2003 to replace Bill Self at the University of Illinois, Lowery followed him to Champaign, serving as an assistant before taking the head job at SIU the following year.

Weber’s contract spans five years and will pay $8.5 million, with $1.5 million next season and an additional $100,000 every year thereafter. Weber’s contract also includes incentive-based bonuses for postseason tournament bids, increased graduation rate, and Coach of the Year awards.