Tennessee awards coach Rick Barnes lifetime contract

Rick Barnes has job security at Tennessee for as long as he wants to continue coaching.

Barnes received a lifetime contract to remain the men's basketball coach in Knoxville, athletic director Danny White announced Thursday.

"Rick has taken our program to unprecedented heights, and we are absolutely thrilled to have him continue coaching on Rocky Top for the rest of his career," White said. "He has constructed this program the right way, achieving elite-level success on the court while also ensuring that all our players excel off the court."

The terms of the new contract were not disclosed. It comes a few months after rumors that Barnes would retire following the 2025 NCAA Tournament, which Barnes responded to by saying he'd left his future in God's hands.

Barnes, 71, took over at Tennessee after being fired by Texas in March 2015. The Volunteers have qualified for the past seven NCAA Tournaments and advanced to back-to-back Elite Eights.

In 10 seasons, Barnes has coached the Vols to a 232-109 record, including a 112-67 record in the Southeastern Conference (.626). They've won three SEC championships and reached the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament four times.

"I am incredibly thankful God brought me to the University of Tennessee 10 and a half years ago. It is an honor and a blessing to serve as the head basketball coach here," Barnes said in a statement. "... Tennessee basketball would not be where it is today without the consistent efforts of so many players, coaches and staff members whom I am forever indebted to. Their relentless dedication and the unrivaled support of Vol Nation are truly why we have been so successful."

Counting his time at George Mason (1987-88), Providence (1988-94), Clemson (1994-98) and Texas (1998-2015), Barnes has gone 836-423 as a head coach, making him the active Division I wins leader in men's basketball. He took Texas to the 2003 Final Four.

--Field Level Media