Tennessee men's basketball coach Rick Barnes is nearing his ninth season with the Volunteers.
He could be around for many more, too.
Athletic director Danny White announced Tuesday afternoon that he has extended Barnes' contract by a year through the 2027-28 season. The 69-year-old Barnes has assembled a 175-92 record with the Vols that includes trips to the NCAA tournament's Sweet 16 in 2019 and again earlier this year.
"We are thrilled to be able to extend Rick and continue to build on the tremendous men's basketball program he has developed here on Rocky Top," White said through a statement. "He has infused a fantastic culture within our team, and our players have represented Tennessee in a first-class manner both on the court and in the classroom.
"Our fans have responded to help create an electric atmosphere on game days, and I can't wait to watch the Vols continue our quest for more championships under Rick's leadership."
Tennessee is the only Southeastern Conference program to compete in each of the last five staged NCAA tournaments.
Barnes earned nearly $5.5 million last season, when the Vols went 25-11 and knocked off Louisiana and Duke in NCAA play before getting upset by Florida Atlantic. He is scheduled to earn nearly $6 million annually over the next five seasons.
"Tennessee has always been great to me and my family," Barnes said. "I thank Danny and this great university for the opportunity as we gear up for the upcoming season. With all of the excitement surrounding campus and the city of Knoxville as a whole, I'm thrilled that we can continue being a part of that positive momentum on campus.
"I'm extremely blessed and don't take any of it for granted. It's an exciting time to be a Vol."
Barnes will enter the 2023-24 season with 779 career coaching victories.
Contact David Paschall at [email protected].