Saluki players are not the only members of the basketball team racking up awards. 

SIU men’s basketball coach Barry Hinson was named the Missouri Valley Conference’s Coach of the Year on Thursday.

“I am extremely humbled and extremely honored,” he said in an acceptance speech. “I am the sum of all parts of [the fellow MVC coaches] behind me. They are not good friends, they are close and good brothers to me.”

Hinson edged out Wichita State’s Gregg Marshall by three points in the voting, receiving 17 first-place votes. Hinson received 84 points to Marshall’s 81. Evansville’s Marty Simmons finished third with 48 points. 

League coaches, media and sports information directors voted on the award.

According to his contract, he will receive a $5,000 bonus for winning Coach of the Year and $10,000 for winning 20-25 games on the year.

In an Arch Madness press conference, Hinson said others deserve as much credit as him. 

“I don’t say this in a defensive way, but I didn’t do anything,” he said. “We’ve had so many people that have collected part of this process.”

He also praised the southern Illinois community as well.

“I work at a university that loves basketball,” he said. “I work in a region that loves basketball. I work in a region and a county that is the poorest in Illinois. With all the stats that I just gave you, we were fourth in attendance. Southern Illinois loves basketball and it is a tradition rich area.”

This is Hinson’s first time winning the award and he is first SIU coach to win since Chris Lowery in the 2006-07 season. 

Hinson is the fifth SIU coach to win MVC Coach of the Year, joining Rich Herrin (1990), Bruce Weber (2003), Matt Painter (2004) and Lowery (2005, 2007).

The Dawgs had a 10-win improvement from last season. Their 22 wins are the most since 2006-07 when the team won 28 games and went to the Sweet 16. This season marks the first winning season for SIU since 2007-08. 

Sean Carley can be reached at [email protected] or at 618-536-3307.