Director of Basketball Operations Chris Lowry is entering his sixth season with the UALR men's basketball program in 2011-12. Lowry spent four years on head coach Steve Shields' staff from 2004-08, before returning to UALR prior to the 2010-11 season. He was a part of two Sun Belt Conference division championship teams during his first stint at UALR, and returned to help the Trojans to a Sun Belt Tournament title and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2011.

Lowry joined the UALR coaching staff as a volunteer assistant prior to the 2004-05 season, and was promoted to Director of Basketball Operations the following year - a position he held for three seasons. His responsibilities at UALR include overseeing player academics and living arrangements, team travel accommodations, video exchange and working as the liaison between the team and community outreach programs.

The Trojans compiled a 20-11 record in Lowry's final season at UALR, the program's first 20-win season in 11 years, and earned a Sun Belt Conference West Division title. Following the 2007-08 campaign, Lowry accepted an assistant coaching position at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, where he helped the Lions to a 23-9 record in their final season at the NJCAA level. After one season at UA-Fort Smith, Lowry moved on to Lamar (Colo.) Community College. The Runnin' Lopes went 15-14 during the 2009-10 season and lost in the first round of the NJCAA Region IX Tournament.

Lowry brings 14 years of coaching experience to the UALR staff, having worked at the high school, junior college and NCAA Division II levels in California. He has coached 26 student-athletes that have received athletics scholarships, 19 all-conference players and nine professional basketball players.

Prior to joining the UALR staff in 2004, Lowry was an assistant coach at San Bernardino Valley College during the 2003-04 season, helping the Wolverines to the first round of the California state playoffs. He spent the two years before that as a varsity assistant at Riverside Poly High School, during which time the Bears won their first Ivy League championship in 19 years and made two-straight playoff appearances.

Lowry also enjoyed coaching stops at San Gorgonio High School (2000-01), helping the team to its first playoff appearance in 15 years, and Yucaipa High School (1999-00). His coaching career actually began while he was in college, as he served as a varsity and freshman assistant at Canyon Springs High School in 1991-92, helping the Canyon freshmen team to a perfect 22-0 record.

A native of Moreno Valley, Calif., Lowry played two years of high school basketball at Canyon Springs High School in Moreno Valley, Calif. During his two years of varsity basketball, Canyon Springs won two undefeated Mountain View League titles. At Canyon Springs, Lowry was the Mountain View League MVP, All-Riverside County, and All-Los Angeles Times, as well as a three-time league high jump champ, and high jump school record holder (6' 7").

Lowry went on to play one season at Chaffey College (1990-91), followed by one season at San Bernardino Valley College (1992-93), helping lead SBVC to the 1993 Foothill Conference Championship. At SBVC, Lowry was the Foothill Conference MVP, CCCAA All-State First Team, and a CCCAA All-Star, as well as the 1993 Foothill Conference high jump champion.

Lowry finished off his playing career at the University of California, Riverside (1993-95), where he was a part of two CCAA conference champions (1994 & 1995). UCR went to the NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen during his junior season (1993-94), followed by a trip to the National Championship game and a second place finish in the 1995 NCAA Division II Tournament during his senior year.

Lowry has an associate of arts degree from San Bernardino Valley College and a bachelor of arts degree in history from the University of California, Riverside. In May of 2011, Lowry married the former Miko Fletcher.