Flames Licking at Their Heels: What Coaches are on the Dreaded Hot Seat?
By Cam Newton
Rick Barnes – Texas
Dec 7, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Rick Barnes during the second half against the Temple Owls at the Wells Fargo Center. Texas defeated Temple 81-80 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Rick Barnes is one of the nation’s most elite coaches and has led one of the nation’s biggest programs (Texas) for 16 seasons. In that time, Barnes’ Texas squads have appeared in 5 Sweet Sixteens, 3 Elite Eights, 1 Final Four, and have won 3 Big 12 Titles. Texas was always a football school, but after Barnes had been there for a few seasons, basketball was once again thriving and popular in Austin.
In only one of his seasons with Texas has he not made the NCAA Tournament, that being last season. Last year, Texas suffered its first losing season since 1998. It’s not like this is an anomaly either. Ever since their last Elite Eight appearance in 2008, Texas has been on a decline, culminating in a disappointing 36-32 record in the previous two seasons. Luckily for Barnes, he’s still got all of the resources of the University of Texas Athletics Program on his side. He’s still able to recruit good players for his program, as Texas has the name and power to pull in great young talent. Not to mention Texas has been playing well so far this season, as they currently stand at 11-3. It’ll be interesting to see what Big 12 plays holds for them, especially in their matchups with Kansas and Iowa State. I don’t see Barnes getting fired anytime soon, barring something crazy happening and/or Texas finishes with say two more disappointing seasons.