By STEVE MEGARGEE
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ A person familiar with the situation says Tennessee has reached an agreement to hire former Texas coach Rick Barnes as its next men’s basketball coach.
The person spoke to The Associated Press Tuesday on condition of anonymity because the hiring hasn’t been announced.
Barnes went 402-180 at Texas and reached the NCAA Tournament in 16 of his 17 seasons, including a Final Four appearance in 2003. Texas announced his departure Sunday, saying it was a mutual decision. Barnes said he was given the choice of firing his staff or being fired himself.
The 60-year-old Barnes is 604-314 in 28 seasons overall with stops at George Mason, Providence and Clemson.
Barnes replaces Donnie Tyndall, who was fired Friday after one season amid an NCAA investigation of his tenure at Southern Mississippi.