Following-up on some “dirt” that HoopDirt.com posted earlier this morning (SIUE Dirt)…
SIUE men’s basketball Head Coach Jon Harris has announced the addition of assistant coach Brian Barone to the men’s basketball staff.
“We are excited to have Brian join our staff,” Harris said. “As the son of a former coach, he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, and has been a part of college basketball’s various levels.”
Barone brings previous NCAA Division I experience as an assistant as well as stints as an assistant and head coach in the junior college ranks.
“I am thankful for this opportunity,” Barone said. “To have the opportunity to work with Coach Harris is a blessing. We have a long-standing relationship and I have always known Coach to be a great basketball mind, a relentless worker and even a better person. It’s exciting to be in the SIUE program because I know Coach Harris doesn’t only preach family, hard work and loyalty, but also lives it.”
Barone’s most recent Division I experience came at Green Bay under current Bradley head coach Brian Wardle. In five years on the Green Bay staff, Barone helped guide the Phoenix to a 95-65 overall record. In 2014-15, Green Bay posted a 24-7 record and claimed the Horizon League’s regular season championship.
While at Green Bay, Barone was instrumental in the recruitment and development of two-time Horizon League Player of the Year Keifer Sykes and second round 2015 NBA Draft Pick Alec Brown. More than 10 Green Bay players from Barone’s tenure went on to play professionally.
Prior to his time in Green Bay, Barone was on staff at Indiana University as the Hoosiers’ director of basketball operations/video coordinator where he worked under his college head coach Tom Crean. He began at IU in 2008 after serving the 2007-08 campaign as the coordinator of basketball operations and video coordinator at Marquette.
He also founded Find A Way Consulting, a scouting and coaching consulting business. Find A Way has worked with the men’s basketball programs at Indiana, East Tennessee State, Loyola and Bradley.
Barone’s first Division I coaching experience came at Illinois State. He spent four seasons (from 2003-04 through 2006-07) as an assistant coach for the Redbirds where he helped resurrect a program that had just eight wins the year prior to his arrival.
He also has experience in the junior college ranks, with coaching stops at Butler Community College, Garden City Community College and Central Florida Community College.
“Brian has been on championship-winning staffs, and he understands what it takes to build a program,” Harris said. “He is connected in the profession with a broad recruiting base. His biggest assets are his ability to relate to people and build relationships, whether in recruiting, with alumni and donors or, most importantly, the team in the locker room. He’s well-rounded, and he finds a way to approach each day with a winner’s mindset.”
As a player, Barone played his first two seasons at Texas A&M, playing for his father Tony Barone, Sr. He earned honorable mention all-Big XII accolades as a sophomore following the 1997-98 season when he finished among the league’s top five in assists and steals. He also received GTE Big XII Academic All-Conference accolades as well.
He transferred to Marquette, where he played alongside Harris. Barone made his debut in 1999-00 after sitting out one season as a transfer. He served as team captain during his tenure and was also named to the Conference USA All-Academic Team.
Barone earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from Marquette in 2000 and completed his master’s at MU in 2002.
Basketball runs in Barone’s family. His father, Tony Sr., played at Duke and was the head coach at Creighton, Texas A&M and the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies, as well as being as the Director of Player Personnel for the Grizzlies. His brother, Tony, Jr., has been a college assistant coach, a Director of Scouting in the NBA, and currently is the assistant director for development and enforcement for men’s basketball with the NCAA.
Barone and his wife, Mimi, have a son, Carson, and two daughters, Ava and Gianna.
“I look forward to being a part of this University which has had success athletically, but also academically,” Barone added. “Mimi and I are eager to get involved in the Edwardsville community.”
“Brian, his wife Mimi and their children will be great additions to SIUE and the Edwardsville community,” Harris added.
http://www.siuecougars.com/sports/m-baskbl/2016-17/releases/20170606g43pw2
