'He was hoping to have a chance to talk about it' – Tennessee's Rick Barnes comments on Rodney Terry getting fired by Texas
Tennessee Vols head coach Rick Barnes is one of the few people on the planet who knows exactly what former Texas Longhorns head coach Rodney Terry is going through this week. Terry was fired by Texas last week after just three seasons as the program's head coach. The Longhorns decision to fire Terry came almost […]
Tennessee Vols head coach Rick Barnes is one of the few people on the planet who knows exactly what former Texas Longhorns head coach Rodney Terry is going through this week.
Terry was fired by Texas last week after just three seasons as the program's head coach.
The Longhorns decision to fire Terry came almost exactly 10 years after Texas fired Barnes.
Terry, who served as an assistant coach under Barnes at Texas for nine years, made the NCAA Tournament in each of his three seasons as the head coach in Austin and he led the Longhorns to the Elite Eight in 2023. A loss in the "First Four" to Xavier, however, cost Terry his job (oddly enough, Sean Miller, the coach of that Xavier team, will be Terry's replacement at Texas).
On Wednesday, ahead of the Volunteers' upcoming matchup against the Kentucky Wildcats in the Sweet 16, Barnes was asked about his thoughts on Terry getting fired by Texas.
Barnes noted that Terry was hoping to speak to Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte about a way forward before the decision was made.
“I talked to him obviously before he had heard, and you know, he was hoping to have a chance to talk about it with Chris Del Conte and see if there was a way moving forward," said Barnes. "But after it happened — I talked to him the day before — I called him back after I’d gotten the news and before I could even say anything, he said, ‘Coach, I’m good.’ He said, ‘I know God’s got a plan for me.’ He said, ‘He brought me here, he’s got something planned.’ And I think he’s just in a good place as a person.
"But you know, Rodney was a part of that program as an assistant [and] head coach for 11 or 12 years, and obviously was there when we had some good runs. Rodney’s a good man. I thought the staff did a good job with their team. But he’ll be fine, whatever he decides to do. I think he’s already had opportunities that maybe he passed on. But I love Rodney. It warmed my heart when I heard him say what he said that God had a plan for him because I believe that. I think he’s got a plan for all of us. I think he’s sovereign. I don’t think his sovereignty has ever lost. So he’ll put him where he wants him to be.”
Barnes is proof that a coach can land in a good spot and enjoy a career resurgence after getting fired by Texas. And maybe that's what will happen for Terry.
Either way, it's a fresh start for both sides and both sides will be looking for ways to be successful moving forward.
