Rodney Terry 'Home For Good' As Longhorns Next Men's Basketball Coach
Austin is home for Rodney Terry. It just took some time away for him to appreciate the place he always felt most comfortable.
Terry knows what it'll take to win on the Forty Acres. He'll look to bring long-term stability to Texas after being named the Longhorns' 26th men's basketball head coach.
Prior to joining Chris Beard's staff last season, Terry spent eight seasons working under Rick Barnes starting in 2002. He was a member of the staff that led the Longhorns to a Final Four appearance in 2003. He was on staff when Texas last made it to the Elite Eight in 2008.
And while a Final Four bout slipped out of the Longhorns' grasp Sunday in Kansas City against fifth-seeded Miami in an 88-81 loss, that taste of defeat will linger in Terry's mouth all offseason.
It'll be something he hopes never to feel again while serving as the Longhorns' ringleader under the big top of the Moody Center.
“Today marks the journey of a new, exciting chapter in a 20-plus year relationship that I've had on the Forty Acres,” Terry said during his introductory press conference Tuesday. “I was always one of those guys that wanted to be an elite, high major coach. That was always a goal and, man, I’m getting the chance to live that out right here at the University of Texas. I'm so proud and so honored to have that opportunity.”
Terry and Texas agreed to terms on a five-year, $15.3 million contract Monday afternoon to celebrate not only a stellar run in the madness of March but also his 55th birthday. The only better present would have been a trip to Houston to face fourth-seeded UConn in the Final Four at NRG Stadium. Still, he'll take stability and a brand-new contract worth roughly $3 million a season over interviews for other jobs.
The Longhorns head coaching title wasn't given to Terry. It was earned. Beard was suspended — and later fired — following an arrest on felony domestic violence charges in early December. Athletic director Chris Del Conte needed a leader with proven experience to ease the storm on the court as he dealt with a monsoon of concerns off of it.
Terry, who spent 11 seasons between Fresno State and UTEP, fit the bill. While his 163-156 overall record didn't scream "Texas material," Del Conte wasn't looking for a permanent solution at the time. He needed a coach that knew how to lead, call timeouts and set lineups against opponents.
That was before an emotional win over Rice hours after Beard's suspension. In that moment, Del Conte's mind had changed about Terry's long-term status. Players listened. They gravitated to his "Terry-isms" and played with passion on a night that easily could have ended in defeat.
Del Conte knew that Terry was the right man for the job if he could win. But again, a preacher can lead his flock in a sermon. How about to victory?
“Coach Terry, we gave you the whistle and said, ‘Go earn this job. It belongs to you,'" Del Conte said. "And I watched your leadership. I watched you under pressure. I watched how you handled the team. You took that whistle, and you earned it.”
One win turned into two, which turned into five and later 22. Terry and Horns found their stride at the start of the conference regular season. They picked up victories over No. 17 TCU, No. 11 Baylor and No. 3 Kansas, along with countless others.
Once the Big 12 Tournament started, no one could stop the high-tempo offense from rattling off three straight wins to claim the conference title and a second-seed in the NCAA Tournament. After that, Texas went 3-1 in the Midwest Region, outscoring opponents 316-286.
"You had a very long job interview," Texas president Jay Hartzell said Tuesday. "And I would say you nailed it.
"The family spirit, the culture of this team and the way they rally behind their leader got us here today, and we're proud to be here. We look forward to the future.”
There will be the doubters who say Terry isn't qualified to take over a program with Texas' pedigree. His near .500 record at small schools certainly has critics up and arms about his potential for a program with national title aspirations.
Austin isn't Fresno, however. It isn't El Paso, either. Terry will have an abundance of resources at his disposal that he could have only dreamed of during his time with Bulldogs and Miners, respectively.
He also has the backing of not just the administration, but also the players. And no, not just the ones who suited up in the orange and white this past winter, but those of his past. Former Longhorns LaMarcus Aldridge and T.J. Ford were in attendance to support their former coach.
Beard, who recently was hired at Ole Miss, also called to congratulate and wish him the best.
Terry, who first came to Austin as a player at St. Edwards in 1986, never truly left. Even when coaching out in California and west Texas, he carried the Longhorns with him, having a photo of an iconic mascot in his film room. Before accepting the job with the Miners, he bought a house to come back and visit his adopted home.
There's no more visiting Austin. No more speculation of if he'll be on the move once more. This is Terry's program for as Longhorns will have him.
And he intends to have the program wanting him home until he's ready to hand whistle back to Del Conte.
"I’ve prepared my whole life for this opportunity," Terry said. "You can't find a more Texas guy than Rodney Terry."
Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Longhorns? Click Here to Subscribe to the Longhorns Country Newsletter
Want even more Texas Longhorns? Check out the SI.com team page here
Follow Longhorns Country on Twitter and Facebook.
Make sure to subscribe to the Longhorns Country Podcast today! Click here To Listen.
