Chris Lowery (born July 7, 1972) is an American college basketball coach and former player from Evansville, Indiana. He is best known for his tenure as head men’s basketball coach at Southern Illinois University, where he led the Salukis to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including a trip to the Sweet Sixteen in 2007.
Early life and playing career
Lowery was born and raised in Evansville and attended Harrison High School, where he played basketball for the Warriors.
He continued his career at Southern Illinois University, playing point guard for the Salukis from 1990 to 1994. Lowery was part of three consecutive Southern Illinois teams that reached the NCAA Tournament from 1992 through 1994.
During his senior season, he served as a team captain and helped Southern Illinois win the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championship.
Lowery graduated from Southern Illinois in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education.
Coaching career
Lowery began his coaching career as an assistant at Rend Lake College before returning to Southern Illinois as an assistant coach. He later served on the coaching staffs at Southeast Missouri State and Illinois.
Lowery returned to Southern Illinois in 2003 as an assistant under head coach Matt Painter.
When Painter left for Purdue following the 2003–04 season, Lowery was named head coach of the Salukis at age 31, making him one of the youngest Division I head coaches in the country.
Southern Illinois
Lowery immediately continued Southern Illinois’ run of success.
In his first season as head coach, the Salukis finished 27–8, won the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championship and reached the NCAA Tournament.
Southern Illinois returned to the NCAA Tournament in 2006 after winning the MVC Tournament.
Lowery’s most successful season came in 2006–07. Southern Illinois finished 29–7, won the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championship and received a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
The Salukis defeated Holy Cross and Virginia to advance to the Sweet Sixteen, where they lost to top-seeded Kansas, 61–58.
Southern Illinois finished the season ranked No. 11 in the Associated Press poll, and Lowery was named Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year for the second time in three seasons.
Lowery coached Southern Illinois for eight seasons, from 2004 through 2012, compiling a record of 145–116.
Later career
Following his tenure at Southern Illinois, Lowery joined Bruce Weber’s staff at Kansas State in 2012.
He spent a decade as an assistant and associate head coach with the Wildcats and was part of Kansas State teams that won Big 12 championships and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
In 2022, Lowery returned to Southern Illinois as an administrator, becoming the university’s assistant athletic director for men’s basketball.
Lowery was inducted into the Southern Illinois University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2023, recognizing his accomplishments as both a player and coach for the Salukis.