The Tennessee Volunteers are making waves in their pursuit of a national championship, with head coach Rick Barnes leading the charge.
As Tennessee prepares for a high-stakes Elite Eight matchup against the Houston Cougars, they’ve already secured victories over Kentucky, UCLA, and Wofford in the NCAA Tournament.
Following the Volunteers’ win against Kentucky, Barnes achieved a remarkable milestone, becoming the winningest active head coach in men’s NCAA Division I basketball.
By securing his 836th career victory with a 78-65 triumph over the Wildcats in the Sweet 16, Barnes surpassed former Kentucky coach and current Arkansas head coach John Calipari. His coaching record now stands at 836-422 over an impressive 38-year career.
While both Calipari and St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino have recorded more total wins, NCAA sanctions have resulted in some of their victories being vacated, keeping Barnes at the top among active coaches.
Barnes took over as Tennessee’s head coach in 2015 after spending 17 years leading the Texas Longhorns, a tenure that ultimately ended with his dismissal. Prior to Texas, he had coaching stints at Clemson, Providence, and George Mason, building a respected career in college basketball.
This season, Tennessee has benefited greatly from the standout play of transfer Chaz Lanier, who is averaging 18.0 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.
Additionally, the Volunteers have found consistent production from Zakai Zeigler, who has contributed 13.9 points, 7.5 assists, and 1.9 steals per contest, making him a key asset in their tournament run.
