KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Just two days after leaving Texas, Rick Barnes has landed at Tennessee.
Tennessee announced the hiring Tuesday, calling Barnes an "elite basketball coach in every respect." The agreement is for six years at $2.25 million annually.
Rick Barnes year-by-year
YR. SCHOOL REC. POSTSEASON
2014-2015 Texas 20-14 NCAA 2nd round
2013-2014 Texas 24-11 NCAA 3rd round
2012-2013 Texas 16-18 CBI 1st round
2011-2012 Texas 20-14 NCAA 2nd round
2010-2011 Texas 28-8 NCAA 3rd round
2009-2010 Texas 24-10 NCAA 1st round
2008-2009 Texas 23-12 NCAA 2nd round
2007-2008 Texas 31-7 NCAA Elite 8
2006-2007 Texas 25-10 NCAA 2nd round
2005-2006 Texas 30-7 NCAA Elite 8
2004-2005 Texas 20-11 NCAA 1st round
2003-2004 Texas 25-8 NCAA Sweet 16
2002-2003 Texas 26-7 NCAA Final Four
2001-2002 Texas 22-12 NCAA Sweet 16
2000-2001 Texas 25-9 NCAA 1st round
1999-2000 Texas 24-9 NCAA 2nd round
1998-1999 Texas 19-13 NCAA 1st round
TEXAS TOTALS 402-180 (17 seasons)
1997-1998 Clemson 18-14 NCAA 1st round
1996-1997 Clemson 23-10 NCAA Sweet 16
1995-1996 Clemson 18-11 NCAA 1st round
1994-1995 Clemson 15-13 NIT 1st round
CLEMSON TOTALS 74-48 (4 seasons)
1993-1994 Providence 20-10 NCAA 1st round
1992-1993 Providence 20-13 NIT 4th place
1991-1992 Providence 14-17 None
1990-1991 Providence 19-13 NIT quarterfinals
1989-1990 Providence 17-12 NCAA 1st round
1988-1989 Providence 18-11 NCAA 1st round
PROVIDENCE TOTALS 108-76 (6 seasons)
1987-1988 George Mason 20-10 None
GEORGE MASON TOTALS 20-10 (1 season)
CAREER TOTALS 604-314
Barnes succeeds Donnie Tyndall, who was fired Friday after one season amid an NCAA investigation of his two years at Southern Mississippi.
"We are very, very fortunate today to have hired an elite basketball coach," Tennessee Athletic Director Dave Hart said Tuesday at news conference to introduce Barnes. "That's what Rick Barnes is. He is definitely an elite coach."
Barnes, 60, went 402-180 at Texas and reached the NCAA Tournament in 16 of his 17 seasons, including a Final Four appearance in 2003.
"Walking through here and seeing everything [on campus], it was so easy for me to get energized and to step back and realize just how fortunate and just blessed I am to have this opportunity." Barnes said. "I really want to emphasize how humbled I am to be here. I understand the great traditions that have come before me.
"I can promise you this: Every day, I'll promise you this, I'm going to protect the great integrity of this university. This basketball team is going to mirror what this university stands for."
Barnes said he often made the drive from his hometown in Hickory, N.C., to Tennessee's campus in 1974 while courting his wife, Candy, a former Tennessee student.
Texas announced Barnes' departure Sunday, saying it was a mutual decision. Barnes made it clear at his farewell news conference that he was fired and that he told Texas Athletic Director Steve Patterson he wanted to stay. Barnes said he was given the choice of firing his staff or being fired himself.
Barnes is 604-314 in 28 seasons overall with stops at George Mason, Providence and Clemson. He has reached the NCAA Tournament in 19 of his past 20 seasons.
Hart said he fired Tyndall for cause after determining the NCAA would likely find the coach committed major violations while at Southern Mississippi from 2012-14. Tyndall went 16-16 in his lone season at Tennessee.
Although Barnes' only SEC experience came during a brief stint as an Alabama assistant in 1985-86, Barnes has some familiarity with the area. He grew up about 200 miles east of Tennessee's Knoxville campus.
"I know what the University of Tennessee and the great fan base here is about," Barnes said. "I know that. When people talk about Rocky Top, I know what they're talking about."
Barnes takes over a Tennessee program that has gone at least as far as the NCAA regional semifinals four of the past nine seasons despite encountering plenty of recent coaching turnover.
Bruce Pearl was fired in 2011 amid an NCAA investigation after leading Tennessee to NCAA Tournament appearances in each of his six seasons. Pearl was replaced by Cuonzo Martin, who left for California after earning one NCAA invitation and two spots in the NIT in his three seasons. Tyndall took over for Martin.
Tennessee loses All-SEC guard Josh Richardson to graduation and doesn't return any proven point guards or post scorers.
Barnes' 402 victories at Texas were the most in school history. Kevin Durant and T.J. Ford earned national player of the year honors while starring on Barnes' teams.
He led Texas to the Sweet 16 five times, 1 Final Four and 3 trips to the regional finals but hadn't advanced the Longhorns beyond the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament since 2008.
Tennessee became the second SEC school to hire a veteran coach with Final Four experience this month. Mississippi State announced last week it was replacing the fired Rick Ray with Ben Howland, 57, who made three consecutive Final Four appearances with UCLA from 2006-08.
Sports on 04/01/2015