Tennessee basketball coach Rick Barnes is one of the 36 North American nominees to be apart of the 2024 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class.
“The good Lord has looked out for me for a long, long time,” Barnes said of his nomination on Thursday night. “Even way back when probably (I) was growing in trying to figure out how to be the head basketball coach. But it’s always been about the players, it’s always been about our staff. I’ve always tried to pride myself in hiring people that I thought was better than me. I think that when you’re in a leadership position, you got to be someone who’s going more learn something every day. And the way you do that, you surround yourself with great people.
“Then my family. And they’ve stuck with me. I mean, I think I’ve what made ten moves over the years. … But anytime you’re involved in a team sport and you’re singled out for something, always goes back to being a team sport and all those that have helped you along the way and been there with you along the way. They’re as much a part of it as anybody.”
The hall of fame class finalists will be announced on Friday, Feb. 16 during the NBA All-Star weekend and the complete 2024 class will be announced on Saturday, April 6 during the Final Four.
There is not an official number that will be inducted into the class though the 2023 Naismith Hall of Fame class included 12 members.
The ninth-year Tennessee coach enters the Vols’ Thursday night matchup against Tarleton State with a 787-409 record. Barnes became the 14th winningest head coach in college basketball history when Tennessee knocked off North Carolina State on Saturday night.
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A Hickory, North Carolina native, Barnes has a 183-95 record in his eight-plus years in Knoxville including five NCAA Tournament berths and two Sweet 16 trips. Barnes has served as the head coach at five-different colleges earning his second most wins during his Tennessee tenure.
Barnes is in his 37th season as a college basketball head coach. In his first 36 seasons, the 69-year old coach has led his teams to 27 NCAA Tournaments including eight Sweet 16 appearances and a 2003 Final Four berth.
The veteran head coach has led his teams to four regular season conference championships and two conference tournament championships. He was the 2019 Naismith National Coach of the Year and won four Big 12 Coach of the Year honors at Texas and one SEC Coach of the Year honors at Tennessee.
Barnes is a member of North Carolina Hall of Fame (2023) and Lenoir-Rhyne Hall of Fame (2002).
