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2013-14 SALUKI BASKETBALL
siuSalukis.com
47
NIT in 1967
(champions)
, 69, 75, 89, 90, 91, 92, 00, 08
NATE
MAST
Director of Operations
Experience:
6th year
At SIU:
2nd year
Alma Mater:
Illinois (2002)
Nate Mast was named Saluki
Basketball’s first full-time director
of basketball operations on May 19,
2012.
Prior to SIU, Mast served as
head coach at Parkland College in
Champaign, Ill., where he posted a
53-44 record, including an NJCAA
Division II national tournament
appearance in 2012.
A 2002 g r adua t e o f t he
University of Illinois, Mast was a
student assistant for one season for
the Illini (2001-02) and later joined
Bill Self’s staff at Kansas in 2004 in
an administrative capacity. While
at Kansas, the Jayhawks won three
Big 12 Conference championships.
In 2007, Mast accepted his first
coaching job at an assistant at the
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith,
where he helped the Lions to a
record of 51-13 during two seasons.
“Nate’s experience as a head
coach and having worked and
played at the highest level of college
basketball will be a tremendous asset
for us,” said Hinson. “We are happy
to welcome Nate, his wife Ashley,
and his children, Nolan and Kendall,
to our Saluki family.”
A four year letterman at Illinois,
Mast holds the UI scoring record for walk-ons. He played in 72 games from 1997-2001, including four starts and was named
to the Big Ten Academic All-Conference team. He played three seasons for Lon Kruger and one season under Self.
“I’m excited to be here and back at the Division I level,” Mast said. “I’m looking forward to working together with our staff.”
Mast was a two-time recipient of the Kenny Battle Most Inspirational Player Award, was part of three Big Ten championship
teams and helped the Illini reach the NCAA Elite 8 during his senior year.
Mast recently released a book on Amazon.com titled, “Go Get That Scholarship!: A Guide to College Basketball Recruiting
for High School Players, Parents and Sports Fans.”
A Champaign native, Mast was inducted into the Central High School Hall of Fame in 2008. He is married to the former
Ashley Seaman of Champaign, and the couple has two children, Nolan (5) and Kendall (3).
Staff Bios
“Nate’s experience as a
head coach and having
worked and played at
the highest level of
college basketball is a
tremendous asset for us.”
— Barry Hinson