Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Rick Barnes

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Rick Barnes made an impact.

Rick Barnes is an American college basketball coach, currently leading the University of Tennessee. He is recognized for his successful tenure at the University of Texas from 1998-2015, where he guided the Longhorns to 16 NCAA Tournament appearances in 17 years, including a Final Four run in 2003. Barnes also coached at George Mason, Providence, and Clemson. He maintains a .519 winning percentage in NCAA Tournament games.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1994: Won First Post-Season Conference Tournament Championship

In 1994, while coaching at Providence, Barnes secured his first post-season conference tournament championship, an early milestone in his coaching career.

1996: Tigers ranked second in the AP Poll

During the 1996-97 season, Barnes' Clemson Tigers achieved their highest ranking in school history, reaching second in the AP Poll for one week, showcasing the team's success under his leadership.

April 1998: Hired by Texas

In April 1998, Barnes was hired by the University of Texas, where he quickly made a mark on the basketball program, despite initial challenges.

1998: Left for Texas

In 1998, Barnes departed from Clemson to coach at the University of Texas, a move that significantly altered the trajectory of his coaching career.

1998: Coached at the University of Texas

In 1998, Rick Barnes began coaching at the University of Texas, marking a significant milestone in his career.

1999: Led Texas to NCAA Tournament

In 1999, Rick Barnes coached the Texas Longhorns to an impressive season, winning the Big 12 conference championship and qualifying for the NCAA Tournament, despite having only seven scholarship players for most of the season.

2003: Texas Reached Final Four

In 2003, Barnes led Texas to the Final Four, marking their first appearance in over 50 years.

2003: Final Four Appearance with Texas

In 2003, Rick Barnes guided the University of Texas Longhorns to the Final Four of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, marking their first appearance in over 50 years.

2006: Texas Reached Elite Eight

In 2006, Barnes guided Texas to the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament.

2008: Texas Reached Elite Eight and Barnes Won Big 12 Coach of the Year

In 2008, Barnes led Texas to the Elite Eight and also won the Big 12 Coach of the Year award.

2010: Texas Achieved First #1 Ranking

In 2010, Barnes led the Texas Longhorns to their first #1 ranking, a significant achievement in the program's history.

2012: 14 Straight NCAA Tournament Appearances

From 1999 to 2012, Rick Barnes led the Texas Longhorns to 14 straight NCAA tournament appearances, showcasing a period of sustained success and establishing the program as a national contender.

2013: Cuonzo Martin left for California

In 2013, Cuonzo Martin departed from Tennessee for California.

2015: Left University of Texas

In 2015, Barnes ended his tenure at the University of Texas after failing to advance to the Sweet 16 for the seventh straight season, concluding a successful period marked by numerous NCAA tournament appearances and a Final Four run.

2015: Fired from Texas

In 2015, Barnes was fired from his position at Texas after the team did not advance to the Sweet 16 for the seventh consecutive season.

2015: Hired by Tennessee Volunteers

In 2015, Barnes was hired by the Tennessee Volunteers as their head coach.

2018: Naismith College Coach of the Year

In 2018, Barnes was named the Naismith College Coach of the Year after leading the Vols to a 31-6 season and reaching the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

2019: Won 700th game as head coach

In the 2019–20 season, Barnes won his 700th game as a head coach with a victory over Jacksonville State, a significant milestone in his career.

2021: Led Tennessee to First SEC Tournament Title

In the 2021–22 season, Barnes led Tennessee to their first SEC Tournament title since the 1978-79 season.

2023: Earned 800th Career Win

In the 2023-24 season, Barnes achieved his 800th career win as a head coach in a victory over Texas A&M, marking another significant milestone. The Volunteers also won the SEC regular season outright for the sixth time in school history.