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SIUC, Lowery make long-term commitment to Saluki basketball
By Vahe Gregorian
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
04/02/2007
ATLANTA — As Southern Illinois Carbondale coach Chris Lowery mingled with friends and SIUC associates early Sunday morning at the Hyatt, word began trickling out that he had agreed to a contract extension at SIUC.
In a flash, Lowery went from the object of considerable conjecture to a hub of handshakes — and the symbol of an intrepid new era in SIUC athletics.
With the architect of the seven-year, $750,000 annual deal, athletics director Mario Moccia, standing nearby, Lowery spoke of the significance of the agreement with his alma mater. But perhaps he expressed it best in a statement Sunday.
"Southern Illinois is a special place, and our leaders have bold plans for the future," he said. "I feel there are no limits to what our men's basketball program can accomplish." Advertisement
Lowery, 34, whisked the Salukis to their sixth straight NCAA Tournament and a Sweet 16 appearance this season, along the way coaxing them to the most wins (29) and best NCAA seeding (a No. 4) in school history.
But those achievements and his 78-26 record in three seasons as a head coach made him a ripe candidate for more high-profile and lucrative jobs, much as accomplishments at SIUC had meant for predecessors Bruce Weber (who left for Illinois in 2003) and Matt Painter (to Purdue in 2004).
"We kind of wanted to break that mode," said Moccia, who became SIUC's AD in August and has been dubbed an "external machine" by Missouri Valley Conference commissioner Doug Elgin.
The school initially had hoped to improve Lowery's current salary of about $250,000 by double or better. But Moccia said Sunday that in recent weeks he had received numerous overtures from boosters interested in helping retain Lowery.
That groundswell and broad appreciation of Lowery from the athletics department through the board of trustees enabled SIUC to enhance its offer to one that Lowery said Sunday "surprised and flattered" him.
Here at the NCAA Tournament Final Four site, an end-of-season gathering place for coaches and administrators, speculation about Lowery's future had intensified in recent days.
Schools such as Arkansas, Iowa and Michigan were thought to have interest in Lowery, and it's believed Lowery had an informal chat with Michigan.
Lowery declined to discuss whether that occurred, but he acknowledged a desire for prompt resolution amid "the hustle and bustle" of rumors at the Final Four and "recruits panicking about their future."
The raise, Moccia said, reflects SIUC's devotion to Lowery and Lowery's to SIUC.
Since the Salukis are one of just 12 programs to make the tournament the past six years and have the nation's best home-court winning percentage (.963, 79-3) and eighth-most (155) Division I wins in that time, Moccia said that Lowery could have commanded more elsewhere if he hadn't had his heart in Carbondale.
That sense of attachment, Lowery said, was partly out of being an alumnus but largely out of a bond with his players and in the interests of his wife — who was inclined to stay — and four children.
Moreover, it was indicative of what he and Moccia called a shared vision of the future.
"You have to be in lockstep if you're going to enter into a long-term contract," Moccia said, adding, "We just get along really well."
Further provisions of the contract were not released. But a source said it contained a buyout clause of about $400,000 if Lowery leaves in the next three years. The amount would diminish each year thereafter.
[email protected] | 314-340-8199
SIUC, Lowery make long-term commitment to Saluki basketball
By Vahe Gregorian
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
04/02/2007
ATLANTA — As Southern Illinois Carbondale coach Chris Lowery mingled with friends and SIUC associates early Sunday morning at the Hyatt, word began trickling out that he had agreed to a contract extension at SIUC.
In a flash, Lowery went from the object of considerable conjecture to a hub of handshakes — and the symbol of an intrepid new era in SIUC athletics.
With the architect of the seven-year, $750,000 annual deal, athletics director Mario Moccia, standing nearby, Lowery spoke of the significance of the agreement with his alma mater. But perhaps he expressed it best in a statement Sunday.
"Southern Illinois is a special place, and our leaders have bold plans for the future," he said. "I feel there are no limits to what our men's basketball program can accomplish." Advertisement
Lowery, 34, whisked the Salukis to their sixth straight NCAA Tournament and a Sweet 16 appearance this season, along the way coaxing them to the most wins (29) and best NCAA seeding (a No. 4) in school history.
But those achievements and his 78-26 record in three seasons as a head coach made him a ripe candidate for more high-profile and lucrative jobs, much as accomplishments at SIUC had meant for predecessors Bruce Weber (who left for Illinois in 2003) and Matt Painter (to Purdue in 2004).
"We kind of wanted to break that mode," said Moccia, who became SIUC's AD in August and has been dubbed an "external machine" by Missouri Valley Conference commissioner Doug Elgin.
The school initially had hoped to improve Lowery's current salary of about $250,000 by double or better. But Moccia said Sunday that in recent weeks he had received numerous overtures from boosters interested in helping retain Lowery.
That groundswell and broad appreciation of Lowery from the athletics department through the board of trustees enabled SIUC to enhance its offer to one that Lowery said Sunday "surprised and flattered" him.
Here at the NCAA Tournament Final Four site, an end-of-season gathering place for coaches and administrators, speculation about Lowery's future had intensified in recent days.
Schools such as Arkansas, Iowa and Michigan were thought to have interest in Lowery, and it's believed Lowery had an informal chat with Michigan.
Lowery declined to discuss whether that occurred, but he acknowledged a desire for prompt resolution amid "the hustle and bustle" of rumors at the Final Four and "recruits panicking about their future."
The raise, Moccia said, reflects SIUC's devotion to Lowery and Lowery's to SIUC.
Since the Salukis are one of just 12 programs to make the tournament the past six years and have the nation's best home-court winning percentage (.963, 79-3) and eighth-most (155) Division I wins in that time, Moccia said that Lowery could have commanded more elsewhere if he hadn't had his heart in Carbondale.
That sense of attachment, Lowery said, was partly out of being an alumnus but largely out of a bond with his players and in the interests of his wife — who was inclined to stay — and four children.
Moreover, it was indicative of what he and Moccia called a shared vision of the future.
"You have to be in lockstep if you're going to enter into a long-term contract," Moccia said, adding, "We just get along really well."
Further provisions of the contract were not released. But a source said it contained a buyout clause of about $400,000 if Lowery leaves in the next three years. The amount would diminish each year thereafter.
[email protected] | 314-340-8199
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