The University of Tennessee acted quickly in finding a new basketball coach, hiring Rick Barnes as the 20th head coach in program history Tuesday afternoon.
“Barnes is a unique person,” UT Athletic Director Dave Hart said at Barnes’ press conference in Knoxville. “He’s driven but not by basketball alone. He’s driven about building character in young men.”
Barnes spent the previous 17 season at the University of Texas, taking the Longhorns to 16 NCAA Tournaments before being fired over the weekend. He is one of only 13 coaches in Division I with more than 600 wins – 604.
Between his four previous coaching jobs, he has been to 22 NCAA Tournaments – more than the UT boys program has in its history.
Barnes is known for running a clean program – both off the court and in the classroom. His teams have posted a perfect score of 1000 on each of the last five multi-year APR Reports according to HoopDirt.com.
Growing up in nearby Hickory, NC, Barnes is familiar with the school and knew who to compliment in his opening press conference.
“I’ve been very fortunate to meet so many coaches,” he said. “And one of the best I’ve ever met was Pat Summitt.”
Barnes continues to be well respected from his former players, including 2014 NBA MVP Kevin Durant.
I learned a lot from this guy, was much more than a coach but a father figure! Love you, Thank you pic.twitter.com/gN2ahkmLFP
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) March 29, 2015
The Barnes hiring comes four days after UT terminated the contract of Donnie Tyndall after only one season. He was 16-16 in his only season, being dismissed because of actions taken place at his previous job (Southern Miss) that are believed to bring NCAA sanctions.
Barnes promises no wrong doing will take place during his watch.
“I can promise you this,” he said. “Everyday I’m going to protect the great integrity of this University.”
He becomes UT’s most decorated basketball hire in history, coming to the program with four Big 12 Coach of the Year awards, three Big 12 Regular Season Titles, and a Final Four appearance.
UT,in the past, has not hired already-accomplished coaches, rather looking to the mid-majors for up-and-comers. The program’s last four hires were Buzz Peterson (Tulsa), Bruce Pearl (Wisconsin-Milwaukee), Conzo Martin (Missouri State), and Tyndall (Southern Miss).
