Former Texas head coach Rick Barnes is finalizing a deal to become the next head coach at Tennessee, according to CBSSports.com.
Texas and Barnes parted ways last week.
The Longhorns finished 20-14 this season and had not advanced beyond the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament since advancing to the Elite Eight in 2008. Barnes had a record of 402-180 in 17 seasons with Texas, and 604-314 overall.
Barnes, 60, took Texas to the NCAA Tournament in 16 of 17 seasons at the school.
Rob Lanier, a Barnes assistant at Texas, will likely join the staff at Tennessee, a source said.
Barnes is the second new coach in the SEC in as many weeks, following Mississippi State’s hiring of Ben Howland last week.
They will join a group of high-profile coaches, including Kentucky’s John Calipari, Florida’s Billy Donovan, Auburn’s Bruce Pearl and South Carolina’s Frank Martin. The Alabama job remains open.
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