Making the Rounds: Barnes Has Been Noble Coach for Five DI Universities
April 1st, 2015 - 19:12
Tennessee-bound Rick Barnes, headed for his fifth Division I school as head coach, is the first individual to pilot four different power-league members. He previously was bench boss at George Mason (CAA), Providence (Big East) and Clemson (ACC) before becoming the all-time winningest mentor for Texas (Big 12). If Barnes directs the Volunteers to SEC success and their first Final Four appearance, he likely will finally earn his first national coach-of-the-year award.
Barnes will need to make another pit stop or two to join the following list of seven meandering mentors who guided teams in at least six different DI conferences (six of them included the C-USA):
| Coach (# of DI Leagues) | Different Division I Conferences |
|---|---|
| Tim Floyd (7) | Big Sky, American South, Sun Belt, Big Eight, Big 12, Pacific-10 and C-USA |
| Gene Bartow (6) | Missouri Valley, Big Ten, Pacific-10, Sun Belt, Great Midwest and C-USA |
| Mike Deane (6) | North Atlantic, Metro Atlantic Athletic, Great Midwest, C-USA, Southland and Northeast |
| Bob Huggins (6) | Ohio Valley, Metro, Great Midwest, C-USA, Big 12 and Big East |
| Pat Kennedy (6) | Metro Atlantic Athletic, Metro, ACC, C-USA, Big Sky and CAA |
| Tom Penders (6) | Ivy League, Metro Atlantic Athletic, Atlantic 10, SWC, Big 12 and C-USA |
| Oliver Purnell (6) | Big South, CAA, Great Midwest, Atlantic 10, ACC and Big East |