Barry Hinson will be announced as the new head coach of Saluki men’s basketball today, Athletic Director Mario Moccia said Wednesday.

Moccia tweeted about the hire Wednesday morning, saying the department will put all their efforts into winning immediately.

Media Services Director Tom Weber said there will be a press conference at 3:30 p.m. to introduce Hinson, who has been the Director of Basketball Operation at Kansas since May 2010.

Before he took the job at Kansas, Hinson was the head coach at Missouri State from 1999 to 2008, but was fired after failing to make the NCAA tournament during his tenure. Hinson was head coach of Oral Roberts from 1997 to 1999, and was an assistant coach under Bill Self, current Kansas head coach, for Oral Robert for four years. Hinson’s career head coaching record is 205-140.

During his tenure at Missouri State, the Bears had the highest academic progress rates in the Missouri Valley Conference. Including his time as head coach of Oral Roberts from 1997 to 1999, 46 of Hinson’s 48 players graduated, although another 18 left early.

On March 2, after Lowery was dismissed, Moccia cited player retention as one of the key reasons behind his firing. The team lost a school-record 23 games last season under Lowery, who still had two years left on a contract that paid $750,000 annually.

Hinson will be under contract for five years, with a salary of $250,000 the first two years, $300,000 in year three, $325,000 in year four, and $350,000 in year five.