How much longer will Rick Barnes coach?

#1
NighthawkVol

NighthawkVol

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#1
There is this perception out there among some that Barnes will retire soon. He's 67, but he seems to be in good health. I was thinking about the normal retirement age for coaches now. On one hand, given how much money coaches can make, they don't have to coach as long. But they seem to be coaching longer. Dean Smith was already retired around Barnes' age. Life expectancies are longer too (compare the way Nick Saban looks to the way Bear Bryant looked at the same age).

Rick Pitino is 70 and still coaching at Iona (and doing well). Roy Williams retired at 70. Coach K is retiring at 75. Jim Boeheim is still coaching at 77.

All this tells me that, given continued good health for Coach Barnes, we have another 8 to 10 years before he hangs it up. By then, some of his ex-assistants will be well-seasoned enough to take over the reigns.
 
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#2
#2
GregAmsler said:
There is this perception out there among some that Barnes will retire soon. He's 67, but he seems to be in good health. I was thinking about the normal retirement age for coaches now. On one hand, given how much money coaches can make, they don't have to coach as long. But they seem to be coaching longer. Dean Smith was already retired around Barnes' age. Life expectancies are longer too (compare the way Nick Saban looks to the way Bear Bryant looked at the same age).

Rick Pitino is 70 and still coaching at Iona (and doing well). Roy Williams retired at 70. Coach K is retiring at 75. Jim Boeheim is still coaching at 77.

All this tells me that, given continued good health for Coach Barnes, we have another 8 to 10 years before he hangs it up. By then, some of his ex-assistants will be well-seasoned enough to take over the reigns.
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Schwartz may not stick around…he’ll get offers this off season for sure.
 
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#4
#4
He’ll stay as long as this extended uptrend in results for the program continues. As long as the excellent recruits continue to participate in the program, so will CRB. As long as fans make TBA crazy, he’ll keep going. 2 or 3 consecutive recruiting classes coupled with early departures and it will turn ugly. I don’t think he’ll work through a rebuild. As crappy as some fans behaved while this team was slowly being built into a champion, imagine how intolerable they’d be after a couple of disappointing seasons. He’ll retire when it’s not fun and rewarding anymore.
 
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#9
#9
GregAmsler said:
There is this perception out there among some that Barnes will retire soon. He's 67, but he seems to be in good health. I was thinking about the normal retirement age for coaches now. On one hand, given how much money coaches can make, they don't have to coach as long. But they seem to be coaching longer. Dean Smith was already retired around Barnes' age. Life expectancies are longer too (compare the way Nick Saban looks to the way Bear Bryant looked at the same age).

Rick Pitino is 70 and still coaching at Iona (and doing well). Roy Williams retired at 70. Coach K is retiring at 75. Jim Boeheim is still coaching at 77.

All this tells me that, given continued good health for Coach Barnes, we have another 8 to 10 years before he hangs it up. By then, some of his ex-assistants will be well-seasoned enough to take over the reigns.
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"There is this perception out there among some that Barnes will retire soon"

You don't cite a source. Is this your own feeling or is there actual outside chatter? Just curious.

He seems to still be motivated and happy to be coaching even at 67, but who knows his inner thoughts and feelings? I hope he stays as long as he is still eager to do the necessary work.
 
#10
#10
If he retired this season he's done his job. He's raised our profile for recruits and the program is as stable as it has ever been. That said, it's just according to what motivates him. He probably loves the relationship he has with the kids he recruits and his family is used to him being a coach. So I'd guess it will come down to him doing it as long as he feels like he's physically capable of the grind of working every day.
 
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#11
#11
He can always make Schwartz the de-facto head coach and he could stay with him for several more years to mentor him into the permanent position. Heck, they kept Summitt around when she didn’t even know which seat to sit in any longer (and I’m being serious). But Pat snd Rick aren’t all that comparable in their respective situations (other than trying to get Holly ready and possibly CMS).
 
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#12
#12
Thunder Good-Oil said:
He’ll stay as long as this extended uptrend in results for the program continues. As long as the excellent recruits continue to participate in the program, so will CRB. As long as fans make TBA crazy, he’ll keep going. 2 or 3 consecutive recruiting classes coupled with early departures and it will turn ugly. I don’t think he’ll work through a rebuild. As crappy as some fans behaved while this team was slowly being built into a champion, imagine how intolerable they’d be after a couple of disappointing seasons. He’ll retire when it’s not fun and rewarding anymore.
Click to expand...

I don’t even need to go back to a rebuild year. Just visit a game thread.
 
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#13
#13
Coaching until you're 75, as Coach K has done, is too long. He's shot. He looks and acts old now, because he is. It's only because of Duke's and his reputation that that program continues to land the 5 stars. But recruiting is one thing, and having the energy and mental sharpness to build a team is different. Most great coaches are far more successful in the first half of their careers than in the back half, when the law of diminishing returns (via BURNOUT) kicks in. Joe Paterno coached until he was, what, 90? 85? Way too long--and he maybe had a couple of good teams in this last 20 years. The Pa. State program wasn't anything like it was when he was in his coaching prime. Duke, in basketball, is not at all as good as it was 15 years ago. Look at Fulmer: Strong 10 years, then the slide. If Duke wins the title this year, disregard this comment.....but I don't think it will. I can see Barnes staying on and being effective until he's 70, but my bet is that retirement will very much be on his mind in three years.
 
#14
#14
turbovol said:
Coaching until you're 75, as Coach K has done, is too long. He's shot. He looks and act old now. It's only because of Duke's and his reputation that that program continues to land the 5 stars. But recruiting is one thing, and having the energy and mental sharpness to build a team is different. Most great coaches are far more successful in the first half of their careers than in the back half, when the law of diminishing returns (via BURNOUT) kicks in. Joe Paterno coached until he was, what, 90? 85? Way too long--and her maybe had a couple of good teams in this last 20 years. The Pa. State program wasn't anything like it was when he was in his coaching prime. Duke, in basketball, is not at all as good as it was 15 years ago. Look at Fulmer: Strong 10 years, then the slide. If Duke wins the title this year, disregard this comment.....but I don't think it will.
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1) Penn State had an easy path to being in the NC mix BEFORE joining the Big 10.

2) The further Fulmer was from what Majors had assembled the more difficult it became for him to compete at a high level.

3) Coaching basketball would be easier for a senior citizen than coaching football. 3 or 4 assistants and a huge staff while only having to herd 13 scholarship players.

4) The Final Four usually has 2 or more 60-something coaches participating.
 
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#15
#15
GregAmsler said:
There is this perception out there among some that Barnes will retire soon. He's 67, but he seems to be in good health. I was thinking about the normal retirement age for coaches now. On one hand, given how much money coaches can make, they don't have to coach as long. But they seem to be coaching longer. Dean Smith was already retired around Barnes' age. Life expectancies are longer too (compare the way Nick Saban looks to the way Bear Bryant looked at the same age).

Rick Pitino is 70 and still coaching at Iona (and doing well). Roy Williams retired at 70. Coach K is retiring at 75. Jim Boeheim is still coaching at 77.

All this tells me that, given continued good health for Coach Barnes, we have another 8 to 10 years before he hangs it up. By then, some of his ex-assistants will be well-seasoned enough to take over the reigns.
Click to expand...
8 to 10 years would be the top end of it I think. I would gladly take that but I think it will be more like five yrs max
 
#17
#17
His son and daughter-in-law are about to have their first child. He has two living in Texas who he adores. Speaking as a doting grandfather I can say without hesitation...grandchildren have a huge impact on decisions like retirement, where to live, etc....I recently lost three golfing partners who retired and are moving to be near grandchildren. I hope Rick stays as long as he wants to but Candy will have a ton to say about it as well.
 
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#18
#18
Thunder Good-Oil said:
He can always make Schwartz the de-facto head coach and he could stay with him for several more years to mentor him into the permanent position. Heck, they kept Summitt around when she didn’t even know which seat to sit in any longer (and I’m being serious). But Pat snd Rick aren’t all that comparable in their respective situations (other than trying to get Holly ready and possibly CMS).
Click to expand...
So much for the Schwartz idea, thought it would have been smart.
Just saw he is leaving to coach ECU.
 
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#20
#20
Hey #GREGAMSLER .An SECT championship banner in the rafters!

What in the tarnation !?!?!?
 
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#22
#22
GregAmsler said:
Yep. If you watch the bench during a game, he's doing more work than anyone. My wife (a girls basketball coach) mentions that every time we watch a game.
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Yeah, we’re gonna miss him but that doesn’t mean there isn’t someone on staff ready to move over. Lanier was in that chair a couple yrs ago.

Barnes may have his best Tenn team coming back next yr. It appears he’s finally happy here. I’d say he’ll coach a few more yrs. Trust me, it’s a huge fall from “being someone everyone looks to to not being the guy”. I know, on a much smaller scale.
 
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#24
#24
I hope we get another 5 years or so, but he can honestly retire at any moment. I wouldn't be shocked with retirement this year, depending on tourney.
 
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