More serious turmoil at SIU

[tornado]

we have seen recent financial turmoil, fan rebellions, their message board shut down over constant bickering and fights among the fan base...

and there was an uproar when their BOARD President stood behind Barry Hinson even tho the AD had been rumored to have worked behind the scenes to buy him out & replace him - LINK
...now there's a sudden firing of the Athletic Director & he is being replaced by their former football coach Jerry Kill

https://twitter.com/THefferman/status/989556871643254784

[Da Coach]

More on the big change at SIU today.
The Chancellor of SIU announced that they would not be renewing the contract of Athletic Director Tommy Bell when it expires May 31. However, he is removing the outgoing AD from his duties immediately and replacing him with former SIU football coach Jerry Kill, who was serving as "special assistant to Southern Illinois University Carbondale Chancellor" Carlo Montemagno. Jerry Kill takes over responsibilities for the SIU athletics program today (Thursday, April 26).
The only reasons given was:
"It's time for us to make a change in leadership that will help the program fulfill its potential," Montemagno said. "I am deeply grateful for Tommy's service and wish him well for the future."

http://siusalukis.com/news/2018/4/26/general-jerry-kill-to-assume-responsibility-for-siu-carbondale-athletics-program.aspx

http://thesouthern.com/news/local/siu/tommy-bell-out-as-siu-athletic-director-jerry-kill-to/article_69ed888b-f344-5f9a-b920-e63a5e3c664d.htm

[wily coyote]

IMO it's the last roundup for Barry. I hate to see him go. He is so entertaining but I guess the majority on their board are gonna get what they wanted. We'll see hope he gets to stay at least one more year but if they come up with the $$$$$$'s .........

[BravesWinINStyle]

Is it true people were getting doxxed on SIU??™s old board and posters who were employees at SIU got their usernames reported for leaking athletic department intel and a couple people lost their jobs? And Barry and his staff were fired but the decision was reversed by the Chancellor? That??™s what a well connected SIU grad told me at lunch.

[Da Coach]

Interesting rumor, and pretty much true.

It will be interesting to see how this affects Barry and the SIU team.
Recruiting is hard enough, but this kind of stuff makes it even harder for a coach like Barry to recruit.

[64NIT]

If the SIU "powers that be" have any sense, they'd keep Hinson on for the 2018-19 season. He's got his entire starting five returning. A large number of the team are seniors so a new coach can start from scratch.

Also, isn't it getting a little late to look for a new coach?

[Da Coach]

If the SIU "powers that be" have any sense, they'd keep Hinson on for the 2018-19 season....

The people who just assumed power (the Board of Trustees, the Chancellor, and Jerry Kill who assumed the duties of the fired AD, although nobody knows exactly what his title or job is) intend to keep Barry, against the wishes of most of the fan base, and the fired AD, who was preparing to fire Barry. So it looks like Barry will be there another year, though things are in such a disarray, who knows what will happen?

[tornado]

I recall when Bradley had all its turmoil, problems and horrible streak of losing fans...that several other message boards - specifically the ISU & SIU board piled on, gloated and had a field day with Bradley's downturn...

But that is not how I feel about watching this imploding at SIU in the face of severe leadership problems- we need for them to be strong and battle for the post-season. If the Valley is ever gonna get multiple bids it will come when all (or almost all) MVC members are in or near the Top 100 - as was the case 10-14 years ago when we were routinely getting multiple bids.

[64NIT]

I recall when Bradley had all its turmoil, problems and horrible streak of losing fans...that several other message boards - specifically the ISU & SIU board piled on, gloated and had a field day with Bradley's downturn...

All you have to do is go to the SIU fans' new board and they are doing it to themselves. New board, same old story.

[Da Coach]

As terrible as those SIU fans rip Barry and the SIU basketball program, let me remind people that they finished in 2nd place this past season and has the 2nd best overall winning percentage in the MVC bested only by Loyola.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/standings/_/group/18

They were picked to finish 5th in the preseason poll.
Last season, SIU finished tied for 3rd behind co-champs Wichita State and ISU despite also being picked 5th in the 2016-17 preseason poll.

And they have virtually everyone of importance returning, including Thik Bol, who redshirted last season. They should be picked in the top 3 next season.

Barry is underappreciated, and has done well at SIU. Eventually those fans will get their way, and they'll see what it's like trying to rebuild at a school that is nearly impossible to recruit to.

[tornado]

All you have to do is go to the SIU fans' new board and they are doing it to themselves. New board, same old story.

SIU fans have a history of picking the wrong side of every dispute. I remember when they had fans who were unhappy and complained about Bruce Weber. But then they were ecstatic when Lowery won with Weber's players - but quickly turned to the big Chicago AAU bosses, landed their program-wrecker players & hired the AAU guys out of Chicago as assistants.
From that point forward you could count the time in weeks that the entire program turned sour, and went from a 29-win program to a consistently sub-.500 program despite nothing but highly touted 3-Star & 4-Star players.

[braves16]

https://dailyegyptian.com/79417/more-headlines/siu-athletics-running-on-cumulative-deficit-of-26-million/

[Da Coach]

SIU athletics running on cumulative deficit over $26 million
https://dailyegyptian.com/79417/more...of-26-million/

That article is from February 20, 2018, but it explains why they can't afford to fire Barry. How do they manage to lose tens of millions of dollars more than any other MVC school?
Check the numbers in that article. The amount of money lost every year is staggering, and getting worse rapidly. And, it isn't likely to get better.
The solution proposed by the media is for the taxpayers to pour more money into the sinking ship-

http://www.bnd.com/opinion/editorials/article209747029.html

One of the biggest problems is that their enrollment is bottoming out, and the Chancellor's solution is to get rid of as many academic departments and department heads as he can. Of course, that will only serve to weaken the school and drive enrollment lower.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-siu-chancellor-academic-departments-20171122-story.html

And now the Chancellor has hired a new "Enrollment Management Leader". I am sure that will turn everything around quickly!

http://www.kfvs12.com/story/38021525/enrollment-management-leader-to-join-siu-carbondale

It looks like this is destined to continue, and if so, SIU may have to drop sports, which may necessitate dropping out of Division I.

[MacabreMob]

...and if so, SIU may have to drop sports, which may necessitate dropping out of Division I.

Really????

I call BS!

Don't spew BS like that.

[Da Coach]

Really????

I call BS!

Don't spew BS like that.

It has been discussed I am told.