Ryan Hellenthal Added to SIUE Basketball Staff

Hellenthal begins his 21st year of collegiate coaching this season at SIUE and has extensive experience at all levels ranging from NJCAA to the NCAA Division I level. Most recently, Hellenthal spent five seasons at Division II Quincy University as the head coach, after serving a one-year stint as the Hawks assistant coach and recruiting coordinator where the hawks finished as one of the final 32 teams in the country in the NCAA tournament in 2016-2017. 

"Ryan has been with us since the end of June and has made an immediate impact on our program in a variety of ways," Barone said. "He understands the seat that I am in, and I value that. As a head coach there are different responsibilities and situations that come across your desk. It's nice to have someone who has had those responsibilities and been successful, and to help support our already-established staff.  He has a great understanding of the game and is a relationship builder which will certainly enhance our student-athlete experience here at SIUE."

Hellenthal was as an assistant at Central Missouri for two seasons from 2014-16, helping the program to a 25-7 record and NCAA tournament appearance in 2014-2015.
Prior to that he spent four seasons on staff at Long Beach State for head coach Dan Monson, first as Director of Operations and then as an assistant coach. During his time in Long Beach the 49ers won three Big West regular season conference championships, including a trip to the 2012 NCAA tournament. He also previously spent two seasons as the Director of Operations at Boise State from 2008-10.

Hellenthal spent six seasons as an assistant coach in the NJCAA Kansas Jayhawk conference from 2002-2008. From 2005-2008, Hellenthal was as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Coffeyville Community College for NJCAA Hall of Fame Coach Jay Herkelman. He helped the Red Ravens to a combined 90-19 record during his tenure as an assistant coach and two trips to the national tournament, resulting in a third-place finish in 2007, and a seventh-place finish in 2006. He was also an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Garden City Community College (Kansas) from 2002-05 where he coached alongside Barone. In 2005, the Broncbusters won the Kansas

Jayhawk Conference title for the first time in over 50 years.  During his time in Kansas, Hellenthal coached and recruited nine All-Jayhawk conference selections as well as two NJCAA All-Americans, while helping send over 20 players to the NCAA Division I ranks.

"An important piece when you are building a staff is loyalty," Barone added.  "We started together at Garden City back in 2002-03. We were both young assistants in western Kansas in one of the best junior college leagues in the country. I have known Ryan for over 20 years, and I have followed and supported his career as he has mine."

"Having the opportunity to work for someone I have known for a long time in Coach Barone and make a positive impact at an institution like SIUE is something I am very excited about," Hellenthal said. "I understand and believe in his vision for our program and look forward to serving our staff and players any way I possibly can."

Hellenthal is a 2002 graduate of UIC is a member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Hellenthal is single and resides in Edwardsville.