The Vols renewed Rick Barnes’ contract as head coach of basketball through the 2027–2028 season on Tuesday. This means he will likely have five more seasons with Tennessee before he decides to retire.
Barnes was coming off a season in which the Vols finished with an overall record of 23-10 and an SEC record of 11-7, and he made an appearance in the sweet sixteen. In the NCAA tournament, it was Tennessee’s furthest run since 2019. It was the program’s ninth-ever Sweet 16 appearance. In the previous five years, Barnes has also taken home regular season and tournament SEC championships. In terms of total wins, he ranks in the top 20 with 779 (tied for 18th with Lou Henson). Prior to Tennessee, he worked at Clemson, George Mason, Providence, and and Texas.
Given his current trajectory, it appears logical that he will aim to be among the top ten winningest coaches in five years. In three of the last four cycles, he has also concluded with a recruiting class ranked in the top ten. It demonstrates that he can maintain his success while advancing his career in Knoxville. “I’m thrilled that we can continue being a part of that positive momentum on campus,” Barnes stated. “I don’t take any of my blessings for granted; I am really fortunate. Being a Vol is fantastic right now.”
Under his leadership, Tennessee basketball has grown into a consistent tournament participant and a top-25 squad. What may be Barnes’ last contract at the University of Tennessee has a lot of possibility for success. upcoming season will be Barnes’ 37th season head coaching in Division One college basketball. He has a deep team with a chance to repeat how deep the Vols went into the postseason last year. The resigning only secures more impact he will bring upon the Tennessee program.
