After signing a $750,000 contract extension last year, many felt Chris Lowery was locked up for life at Southern Illinois.

Then reality hit.

Another season of college basketball comes and goes and the coaching carousel starts spinning once again.  And guess who's name is along for the ride.

That's right.

Chris Lowery.

Despite just an 18-15 season, Lowery's name popped up in reports for job openings at a lot of BCS-conference schools.  LSU, Cal, Marquette, and most recently Oklahoma State.

All schools that could pay a lot more than what SIU Athletic Director Mario Moccia was able to scrape up last year.  And that had Moccia worried enough last week to say he's "confident, but not comfortable" that Lowery would stay in Carbondale.

But to me, it seems like Lowery is staying put.  He really hasn't been to public about his future, but seeing how he's still out on the recruiting trail trying to bring top-notch talent to SIU, I'd have to say he still has that Saluki blood flowing through him.

Sunday night, it was reported that Lowery received another committment to his 2008 class.  Chicago Marshall standout Ryan Hare.  Hare orginally committed to Oregon State, but backed out and it now seems like he's headed for Carbondale.

Would Lowery be recruiting kids to SIU if he was pondering a move to Oklahoma State?  I can't say for sure, but I seriously doubt it.

Hare will join an already-star studded recruiting class that includes Illinois Mr. Basketball Kevin Dillard from Homewood-Flossmoor in the Chicago area along with Torres Roundtree and Anthony Booker of McCluer North in St. Louis area.

It's without question, Lowery's best since taking over at Southern.

And on top of that, 2007 signee Justin Bocott of Bloomington, IL is expected to be eligible next year..

That's four very talented recuits joining the mix making the 2008-09 Salukis look like a team that could very well get back to the NCAA Tournament.

As far as the rest of the mix goes, you have to think a guy like Carlton Fay, with a year in the system under his belt, will be much improved.

Add in seasoned junior Josh Bone and a two very seasoned seniors in Bryan Mullins, Tony Boyle and Wesley Clemmons and the 'Dawgs have a pretty good nucleus for next year.

But as always, it doesn't matter how good things look on paper.  Remember, this year's team was pre-season Top 25.

But the bottom line is, I believe Lowery is staying put. But the unfortunate truth is, every off-season, Lowery's name will be linked to job openings.  That's just the downside of having a top-notch coach at a so-called "Mid-major."  The big boys will always come calling.  Let's just hope Lowery doesn't listen.  At least not in the near future.