The Missouri State University Board of Governors Thursday approved a two-year extension to the employment contract of Bears’ head men’s basketball coach Barry Hinson.
   Hinson, who has coached at Missouri State for the past eight years, has had his original four-year contract rolled over three times since he’s been with the Bears, and will now have two additional years to take the contract through the 2010-11 season. The contract becomes effective when all parties have signed it.
   Hinson’s teams have had seven winning seasons in his eight years at Missouri State with an overall record of 152-101. His 2005-06 team and his 2006-07 team each won 22 games and advanced to the National Invitation Tournament and the Bears have been in the first division of the Missouri Valley Conference regular season standings seven times in eight years. Hinson has overseen a total of three 20-victory seasons, four NIT ballclubs and three trips to the finals of the MVC tournament.
    "Coach Hinson has shown himself to be most deserving on this extension," said Missouri State Director of Athletics Bill Rowe. "His teams are averaging 20 wins a year over the past four years and 19 wins a year over the entire eight seasons he’s been with us. There aren’t a great number of coaches and schools of which that’s true. We’ve been knocking on the door of an NCAA tournament bid in three of his eight years, and, while we haven’t been there, I think it’s notable that three of the best five RPI rankings ever not to make the tournament came from Coach Hinson’s teams in 2000, 2006 and 2007. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised to see us get there in 2008. Additionally, Coach Hinson’s recruiting has been solidly in place and has produced excellent results on a consistent basis, he’s assembled a staff of quality assistant coaches and a group of student-athletes who represent our university very well, both on and off the court. Virtually all the players who’ve come to the program in Barry’s time here have earned undergraduate degrees, and that’s the bottom line of why our institution is here. We’re excited as we look ahead to next season and we’re pleased that Barry Hinson is returning to provide leadership for our program."
