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The news was recently broken that former Texas Longhorns head coach Rick Barnes is expected to be the new head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers, who recently parted ways with Donnie Tyndall after the results of an NCAA investigation as first reported by 247Sports. However, is Barnes the right fit for the struggling Volunteers?
The answer is clearly yes.
What the Tennessee men’s basketball program needs more than anything else right now is not wins. It is not recruits, it is not hype and it is definitely not another head coach from a mid-major – it’s stability.
I graduated from the University of Tennessee; Bruce Pearl shook my hand at the very first Vols basketball game I ever attended. He looked at me and said, “Thank you for being here. We need supporters like you.” To be honest, that was one of the first things that piqued my interest in covering college basketball. The next season he was gone.
I remember standing in the student section chanting “We want Stokes,” as Jarnell Stokes was in the crowd for his official visit. When he chose Tennessee over Memphis, our hesitant outlook on newly arrived Cuonzo Martin changed into immediate acceptance. He wasn’t Bruce, but he was a good man and a good coach who had a bright future at Tennessee.
I remember hearing that fans had started a petition to get rid of Martin after their terrible start to the season and being stunned that so many people wanted him out when those who frequently attended games didn’t feel the same. A lot of teams would kill for a coach who brought them top-five finishes in conference each season. I remember reading that he left to coach for California and, instead of being upset, being relieved that he had found a place that wouldn’t turn on him due to unrealistic expectations.
And finally, I remember Tyndall’s arrival. The moment I heard that he was under NCAA investigation my only thought was “here we go again.” I never once tried to find the positives, because I knew it would be just a matter of time until he was gone.
So if anyone knows how desperately the Vols need stability, it’s me. I’ve been through three basketball coaches as a student, and now four as a fan and alumnus. And that’s just why the Barnes hire will be the best thing to happen to Tennessee basketball since Pearl.
Barnes won three Big 12 regular season titles and reached the Big 12 Tournament final 12 times with Texas. Under his leadership, the Longhorns reached the NCAA tournament 16 times. He may be out of Texas because his teams underachieved after reaching the tournament, but at Tennessee, that’s all the Vols really need right now — stability.
Anything else he brings, like recruiting and hype surrounding the program, is just a bonus.
Butch Jones was a knockout hire for Dave Hart. Hopefully, Barnes will look just as good down the road.
Taylor Sturm is a Featured Basketball Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TSturmRS, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
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