By JOSH NEWMAN & ADAM ZAGORIA
SYRACUSE — One day after the Austin American-Statesman reported that Texas head coach Rick Barnes is being released by the school, the school made it official, saying the two sides had mutually agreed to part ways.
The Longhorns finished 20-14 this season and have 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.
Multiple outlets are reporting that Wichita State’s Gregg Marshall and VCU’s Shaka Smart are the leading candidates to replace Barnes.
Barnes, meantime, has already been linked to the coaching openings at Alabama and Tennessee.
“I am so blessed to have spent the last 17 years at The University of Texas,” Barnes said. “This university, the city of Austin and the great Texas fans have been so good to me and my family. I sincerely want to thank (former UT Men’s Athletics Director) DeLoss Dodds and (former UT Chairman of the Board of Regents) Don Evans for their work in bringing me here and providing me with this great opportunity.
“I leave this job with no regrets. Instead, I look back at our time here and say ‘thank you’ to all the players, coaches and staff who have worked with our program throughout the last 17 years. I am so proud of our players and their success, not only on the court, but also in the classroom and in the community. I’m humbled when I really step back and think about how many of them have gone on to be such great all-around men in life.”
Texas AD Steve Patterson said: “The University owes Rick a great deal of gratitude and respect for all he’s done to put Texas on the Basketball map. He elevated our program immensely and always did it with class. He put our student-athletes first. He won with integrity. We thank Rick for his many years of service to Texas and wish him continued success in the future.”
The opening at Texas is just the latest job to open up. Alabama, Tennessee, St. John’s, Arizona State, George Mason and Fordham also have vacancies.
Photo: USA Today Sports
