UT Basketball Coach to Speak at FHU Dinner
UT Basketball Coach to Speak at FHU Dinner
Henderson, Tennessee—(Feb. 28, 2017) Rick Barnes, head coach of the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team, will speak at Freed-Hardeman University Thursday, April 27. FHU’s Sports Advisory Council will host the dinner and speech to raise funds for the university’s intercollegiate athletic programs.
Patron tickets, available for $25 each, include general seating for the dinner and program. Sponsorships and tables, which include premium seating and photo passes, are also available.
Barnes, the 31st head basketball coach of the UT Volunteers, took the reins of the program for the 2015-16 season. In his first year with the Vols, he guided Tennessee to multiple wins over ranked opponents, including signature wins over rivals Florida, Kentucky and Vanderbilt.
Head coach at the University of Texas from 1998 to 2015, Barnes won more games than any other coach in school history. Throughout his 17 years with the Longhorns, his teams advanced to the NCAA Tournament 16 times and appeared in five Sweet Sixteens, three Elite Eights and one Final Four.
Barnes has coached at the college level for 40 years, including 10 years as an assistant coach and 30 years as a head coach. Throughout his time as a head coach, he has produced 24 NBA draft picks, including superstars Kevin Durant, LaMarcus Aldridge and T.J. Ford.
Nationally respected in player development, Barnes is the only coach in the nation who can claim two different National Players of the Year in the last 14 seasons (Ford in 2003 and Durant in 2007). Barnes has also produced four consensus All-Americans and three National Freshman of the Year honorees.
The Sports Advisory Council Benefit begins at 4:30 p.m. in Brewer Sports Center with a silent auction, which will continue until 6 p.m. The dinner will begin at 6 p.m. with the program, featuring Barnes, immediately following the meal.
Those interested in purchasing sponsorships or tickets may call FHU Athletics at
731-989-6900 or 731-989-6901.