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Tennessee athletic director Phillip Fulmer
released a statement during Monday night's NCAA men's
championship game between Virginia and Texas Tech, saying Barnes
decided to stay in Knoxville.
"One of the nation's most tradition-rich college basketball
programs identified what we here at Tennessee already knew --
that Rick Barnes is one the game's elite coaches and a
program-changer," Fulmer's statement read, in part. "I'm
thrilled that he will remain a part of our Tennessee Athletics
family."
The Volunteers were 31-6 under Barnes this season, reaching a
No. 1 ranking and advancing to the South Regional semifinals,
where they were defeated 99-94 by Purdue. Barnes was selected
the Naismith Coach of the Year on Sunday.
UCLA also had interest in Texas Christian's Jamie Dixon, but the
school elected to pursue other options last week after
reportedly electing to not pay the $8 million buyout of his
contract. It is unclear if UCLA will resume its pursuit of
Dixon.
The Bruins' program is in need of a head coach after Steve
Alford was fired on New Year's Eve. The Bruins started 7-6 under
Alford and finished with a 17-16 record, with Murry Bartow
taking over on an interim basis. UCLA did not advance to the
NCAA Tournament for the second time in four years.
Other reported coaching candidates of interest to UCLA include
Mick Cronin of Cincinnati, Randy Bennett of Saint Mary's, and
former Bruins point guard Earl Watson, who was fired as head
coach of the Phoenix Suns three games into the 2017-18 season.
--Field Level Media
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