KNOXVILLE – Grant Williams spoke multiple times with Rick Barnes on Monday while Tennessee’s basketball coach was deciding whether he wanted to continue being UT’s coach.
“You have to trust and believe he was going to make the best decision possible,” Williams said.
Barnes opted to stay with the Vols after being courted to fill UCLA’s coaching opening and that was the best possible decision for Williams and his teammates.
“Guys were ecstatic; guys were excited,” Williams said.
Williams was relieved as well. The junior forward, the two-time SEC player of the year, announced on Tuesday that would join teammate Jordan Bone in going through the NBA Draft process while preserving the right to return for his final season. Williams called the choice a “win-win scenario.”
Barnes’ choice enhanced Williams’ consideration to play a fourth season with the Vols.
“It definitely made it easier,” he said.
Williams mirrored the reaction of both the university and the city of Knoxville to Barnes deciding to stay put.
UT released a statement from athletic director Phillip Fulmer during Monday night’s national championship game after the university countered UCLA’s offer, which reportedly was $5 million annually.
Fulmer opened his statement by saying, “The last few days have been interesting to say the least.”
He went on to thank Barnes and his wife, Candy, and “university leadership.”
“I’m grateful to Rick and Candy and I’m also grateful to our university leadership, which stepped up to show Rick how much he is valued and appreciated,” Fulmer said. “Our commitment to basketball has never been stronger and we’re all excited for the future as we move forward.”
Several local businesses might get a tab from Barnes. He was offered everything from free beer to cinnamon rolls to burgers to stay and continue his revival of the Vols’ program.
Under Barnes, UT is 88-50 in four seasons. Fifty-seven of those victories have occurred in the last two seasons.
Barnes was named the Naismith Coach of the Year on Sunday by the Atlanta Tipoff Club, becoming the first Vols coach to receive the honor. Former Lady Vols coaching legend Pat Summitt received the Naismith award for women’s basketball five times.
Barnes was honored by the United States Basketball Writers Association last month with its coach of the year award.
Under Barnes, the Vols set a school record with 19 consecutive victories this season and tied another record with 31 victories. For the first time in program history the Vols spent the entire season ranked in the top 10 among the national polls, including four consecutive weeks at No. 1.
Williams repeated as player of the year and fellow forward Admiral Schofield was a first-team all-conference honoree.
During the past two seasons, UT is 57-15. The Vols have made consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, reached the Sweet 16 this season and established themselves among the nation’s top 20 programs.
“Rick Barnes is one of the game’s elite coaches and a program-changer,” Fulmer said. “His incredible work here at Tennessee over the past four years illustrates that.”
UCLA fired coach Steve Alford on Dec. 31, midway through his sixth season, after a Bruins lost at home to Liberty for their fourth consecutive loss at that point. Assistant coach Murry Bartow was named interim coach.
Since John Wooden won the last of his 10 NCAA national championships, UCLA has employed nine different coaches along with Bartow and won just one more championship.