Two days after being fired from his position as the head coach at Texas, and four days after former Tennessee head coach Donnie Tyndall was terminated amidst a NCAA investigation, Rick Barnes was once again behind a podium.
This time, however, there were no watery eyes, just smiles and excitement as Barnes was introduced as the 20th head basketball coach in Tennessee history inside Pratt Pavilion on Tuesday.
“As I came on campus for the first time today and started walking through here and seeing everything, it was so easy for me to get energized and to step back and realize how fortunate and blessed I am for this opportunity,” Barnes said. “I’m humbled to be here.
“I understand the great traditions that have come before me, and I promise you this, every day I will protect the great integrity of this university, and our basketball program is going to mirror what this university stands for.”
Before his departure from Texas on Sunday, Barnes coached the Longhorns for 17 seasons, amassing a record of 402-108 while reaching the NCAA tournament in 16 of those years. Of those 16 tournament appearances, the all-time winningest coach in Texas history reached the Sweet 16 five times, the Elite Eight three times and the Final Four in 2003.
Other accolades for Barnes include three Big 12 conference championships, the latest coming in 2008, four Big 12 Coach of the Year awards, 96 victories over AP Top-25 teams, perfect single-year APR scores (1,000) dating back to 2005-06 and 23 former players who have been drafted into the NBA.
“Rick Barnes is an elite basketball coach in every respect,” Hart said in a university release. “Rick brings an extremely impressive track record of excellence, as well as much-needed stability, to our men’s basketball program. This is an exciting day for our Tennessee family.”
During his farewell post conference in Austin, Barnes hinted at prior contact with Tennessee, stating that he would be coaching “quicker than you probably think.”
Shortly after uttering those words, Barnes and his wife, Candy, were picked up by Hart and flown back to Knoxville. Over the next two days, the sides were “together around the clock,” and ultimately completed the deal Tuesday morning.
“There was never a hesitancy on my part once I had made contact with Tennessee,” Barnes said. “I love coaching and I love working with young people … Wins and losses are there, but those can fade away, but those relationships you develop never fade and that’s not something I’m willing to give up.
“I’m driven and I’ve had one goal in my life and that’s to play for a national championship, and this a university that provides you with everything you need to do that.”
After completing the deal, Barnes held a meeting around 3 p.m. with the 10 returning players that remain on the Volunteers’ roster and delivered a simple message.
“I told them that the foundation that is going to be laid will be started this year,” Barnes said.
Barnes’ contract with Tennessee is six years with a base salary of $2.25 million per year. His contract also includes incentives such as $50,000 for winning a SEC regular season title and $25,000 for winning the SEC tournament. Barnes will also receive $50,000 for each NCAA tournament appearance.
In addition, Barnes also set aside some money in order to hire his staff, which will include a few of his assistants at Texas.
“It’s a reflection on who he is,” Hart said. “He’s one of the most successful coaches in the game of college basketball, but it also speaks to our commitment as an institution.”
Prior to his tenure at Texas, Barnes made head coaching stops at Clemson (1994-98), Providence (1988-94) and George Mason (1987-88), making it to the NCAA tournament six times during that 11-year span. In his 28-year head-coaching career, Barnes has made it to The Big Dance 22 times.
Barnes, though, is not focused on the past.
Those watery eyes that were gleaming on the Longhorn Network on Sunday are now clear and solely fixated on his future at Tennessee.
“I fully expect this to be my last job,” Barnes said. “I promise that we are going to put together a staff and we are going to go at it as hard as we can go at it. We are in a great league and there is a standard that is being set in this league, so I’m excited.”
