SIUE men’s basketball Head Coach Brian Barone has announced of Edwardsville native Garret Covington to his staff for the upcoming season.

“We’re excited to welcome Garret Covington to our staff,” Barone said. “He’s a tremendous addition who brings energy, experience, and a winning mentality. His background as a standout player and his ability to connect with student-athletes will make an immediate impact on our program.”

Covington comes to SIUE after spending last season as a graduate assistant at Missouri under Head Coach Dennis Gates. At Mizzou, Covington focused on player development while gaining experience at the high major level.

“I’m excited to join a championship-caliber program and contribute to its strong culture of success,” Covington said. “As someone from Edwardsville, it’s been incredible to witness the hard work and dedication that has elevated the program and brought pride to the community. My goal is to help continue building toward even more successful seasons at SIUE.”

Prior to joining the Mizzou staff, Covington was the head assistant coach at Battle high school in Columbia, Missouri and previously spent a season as an assistant coach at Columbia College.

As a player, Covington was a standout at current Ohio Valley Conference member Western Illinois. He finished his career as the school’s Division I scoring leader, amassing 1,896 points from 2013-2017. He also holds the Leathernecks’ all-time record for three-pointer with 296.  

This past spring, Covington was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) Hall of Fame, recognizing his dedication and impact on the game.

SIUE is coming off the program’s first Ohio Valley Conference championship and appearance in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. The Cougars finished the year at 22-12, marking the most wins in a single season at the Division I level.

https://siuecougars.com/news/2025/7/8/garret-covington-joins-mens-basketball-staff.aspx