Fresh off Texas firing, Barnes storms to Tennessee

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Just two days after leaving Texas, Rick Barnes has landed at Tennessee.

Tennessee announced the hiring Tuesday, calling Barnes an "elite basketball coach in every respect." The agreement is for six years at $2.25 million annually.

Barnes succeeds Donnie Tyndall, fired Friday after one season amid an NCAA investigation of his two years at Southern Mississippi.

"We are very, very fortunate today to have hired an elite basketball coach," Tennessee athletic director Dave Hart said Tuesday at press conference to introduce Barnes. "That's what Rick Barnes is. He is definitely an elite coach."

Barnes went 402-180 at Texas and reached the NCAA tournament in 16 of his 17 seasons, including a Final Four appearance in 2003.

"Walking through here and seeing everything (on campus), it was so easy for me to get energized and to step back and realize just how fortunate and just blessed I am to have this opportunity," Barnes said. "I really want to emphasize how humbled I am to be here. I understand the great traditions that have come before me.

"I can promise you this, every day, I'll promise you this, I'm going to protect the great integrity of this university. This basketball team is going to mirror what this university stands" for.

Barnes said he often made the drive from his hometown in Hickory, N.C.,, to Tennessee's campus in 1974 while courting his wife, Candy, a former Tennessee student.

"Rick brings an extremely impressive track record of excellence, as well as much-needed stability, to our men's basketball program," Hart said earlier Tuesday in a statement. "This is an exciting day for our Tennessee family."

Texas announced his departure Sunday, saying it was a mutual decision. Barnes made it clear at his farewell news conference that he was fired and that he told Texas athletic director Steve Patterson he wanted to stay. Barnes said he was given the choice of firing his staff or being fired himself.

The 60-year-old Barnes is 604-314 in 28 seasons overall with stops at George Mason, Providence and Clemson. He has reached the NCAA tournament in 19 of his last 20 seasons.

Hart said he fired Tyndall for cause after determining the NCAA would likely find the coach committed major violations while at Southern Mississippi from 2012-14. Tyndall went 16-16 in his lone season at Tennessee.

Although Barnes' only Southeastern Conference experience came during a brief stint as an Alabama assistant in 1985-86, Barnes has some familiarity with the area. He grew up about 200 miles east of Tennessee's Knoxville campus.

"I know what the University of Tennessee and the great fan base here is about," Barnes said. "I know that. When people talk about Rocky Top, I know what they're talking about."

Barnes takes over a Tennessee program that has gone at least as far as the NCAA regional semifinals four of the last nine seasons despite encountering plenty of recent coaching turnover.

Bruce Pearl was fired in 2011 amid an NCAA investigation after leading Tennessee to NCAA Tournament appearances in each of his six seasons. Pearl was replaced by Cuonzo Martin, who left for California after earning one NCAA invitation and two spots in the NIT in his three seasons. Tyndall took over for Martin.

Tennessee loses all-SEC guard Josh Richardson to graduation and doesn't return any proven point guards or post scorers.

Barnes' 402 wins at Texas were the most in school history. Kevin Durant and T.J. Ford earned national player-of-the-year honors while starring on Barnes' teams.

He led Texas to the Sweet 16 five times, one Final Four and three trips to the regional finals -- but hadn't advanced the Longhorns beyond the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament since 2008.

Hiring a veteran coach from a Big 12 school represents a change of pace for Tennessee, which selected head coaches from the mid-major ranks for its last four hires: Buzz Peterson (Tulsa), Pearl (Wisconsin-Milwaukee), Martin (Missouri State) and Tyndall (Southern Mississippi).

Tennessee becomes the second SEC school to hire a veteran coach with Final Four experience this month. Mississippi State announced last week it was replacing the fired Rick Ray with 57-year-old Ben Howland, who made three consecutive Final Four appearances with UCLA from 2006-08.

Sports on 04/01/2015

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