WAC Basketball: Top 10 head coaches of the century (2000-20)

By Joey Loose | Jul 16, 2020

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MARCH 21: Ivan Aurrecoechea #15 of the New Mexico State Aggies reacts during the second half against the Auburn Tigers in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 21, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

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FAYETTEVILLE, AR – DECEMBER 27: Head Coach Rod Barnes of the CSU-Bakersfield Roadrunners (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

8. Rod Barnes – Cal State Bakersfield (2013-2020)

By the time Barnes wound up at Cal State Bakersfield, there were already plenty of intriguing things in his background. He played, assisted, and became head coach at Ole Miss, serving eight seasons leading his alma mater, including a Sweet Sixteen run in 2001. Barnes also spent four less than marvelous seasons leading Georgia State before moving to Bakersfield in 2011. After two years as an independent, the Roadrunners joined the WAC in 2013.

Cal State Bakersfield was not a program with recent success, but Barnes produced pretty quickly. In his third season, he led the Roadrunners to their first NCAA Tournament, winning the 2016 WAC Tournament on a buzzer-beater over heavily-favored New Mexico State. They won the regular-season title and made the NIT semifinals the next season.

The three years since have been less productive for Barnes, but that breakthrough success still remains impressive. The Roadrunners have been below .500 in WAC play since that regular-season title, but perhaps Barnes has more magic up his sleeve. Cal State Bakersfield officially joined the Big West earlier this month, but that one conference title is plenty impressive on Barnes’ resume.