University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass Alum Tony Barbee Named Head Coach At UTEP
August 16, 2006 | Men's Basketball
Aug. 16, 2006
EL PASO, Texas - Former UMass basketball star Tony Barbee was hired to be the new basketball coach at Texas-El Paso.
The 35-year-old Barbee spent the past six years as an assistant at Memphis, where he worked under head coach John Calipari, who Barbee played for at the University of Massachusetts.
Barbee will take over for Doc Sadler, who left last week to coach Nebraska.
Barbee is the first black head coach at UTEP, a school credited with helping break down the color barrier in college sports.
Barbee has already spoken to Don Haskins, the former UTEP coach who led the 1966 Miners to the NCAA title and made history by starting five black players in the title game against an all-white Kentucky squad.
Barbee said he is looking forward to having Haskins continue to have a role in the program.
After college, Barbee played in Spain and France. He started his coaching career at UMass in 1996 and moved on to Wyoming.
Barbee is fifth among the all-time career scoring leaders at UMass with 1,643 points from 1989 to 1993.
"Tony has been extremely successful as a player and coach, going to 15 consecutive postseason tournaments," said UTEP athletics director Bob Stull, who was UMass football coach in 1984 and 1985. "He is recognized as a tremendous recruiter. We have enjoyed a strong run with 72 wins in three years, and three straight postseason tournaments. We feel Tony can carry on the tradition of excellence established by coach Don Haskins and maintained over the years."
"I'd like to thank (UTEP President) Dr. Diana Natalicio and Bob Stull for giving me the opportunity to lead the basketball program at such a prestigious university," Barbee said. "I look forward to getting to know Hall of Fame coach Don Haskins. He has set the bar really high for this program with everything he accomplished, including winning the national title in 1966.
"I want to thank John Calipari for mentoring me and showing confidence in me," Barbee said. "I am honored to have him as my coach, mentor, friend and now competitor in Conference USA. I look forward to the rivalries with him and the other great coaches in the league."
