Stetson Hairston begins his third season as an assistant men's basketball coach on Coach Rodney Watson's staff.
Hairston came to USI from the University of Montevallo in 2012-13 after he helped direct the Falcons to the 2012 NCAA Division II national championship game in his only season with the program. The Falcons, who lost to Western Washington University in the title game, 72-65, had a 29-8 overall record during 2011-12.
Hairston made the transition from player to coach in the junior college ranks. He spent two seasons at Lincoln Trail College (2006-08), helping lead the Statesmen to the regional championship in 2007, before spending two years at Southwestern Illinois College (2008-10), where the Blue Storm won the 2009 regional title. Hairston's final junior college season was in 2010-11 when he helped lead Chipola College to the Florida Community College Athletic Association championship and a 25-6 record.
As a player, Hairston was a four-year starter for Southern Illinois University when Watson was a Saluki assistant coach. The Salukis won four Missouri Valley Conference championships, made four appearances in the NCAA Division I Tournament, and produced a record of 104-28 during Hairston's tenure. Hairston finished his career with over 1,000 career points and 500 rebounds, earning a pair of All-Conference and All-Defense awards.
Hairston graduated from SIU in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in university studies.
Updated June 10, 2014
