Rick Barnes reveals story behind touching moment with assistant coach

The Tennessee Volunteers are onto the 2022 SEC Tournament Championship Game. Tennessee defeated Kentucky in the SEC semifinals on Saturday, and are set for a matchup against Texas A&M with the title on the line on Sunday afternoon. After Tennessee defeated Kentucky, head coach Rick Barnes shared a special moment with assistant coach Mike Schwartz.

Schwartz first met Barnes at Texas, when Barnes was coaching the Longhorns and Schwartz was a walk-on. Now, the two have worked together for many years, and Barnes is appreciative for how hard Schwartz works as a Tennessee assistant coach.

“I thought our guys had prepared so hard, and I kept thinking we have to get this done for them and our coaching staff,” Barnes said after Tennessee advanced to the SEC title game. “I have the best coaching staff in the country, and they work so hard. For us to play like we played and then we got sloppy, but, again, Kentucky had a lot to do with that, but I’ve been with Mike — he was my very first GA. I have known him my entire life, it seems like. Certainly from the time I met him as a walk-on when he walked on our team at Texas, and then became our first GA and how hard he works.”

Barnes recalls a conversation with his assistant coach the night before Saturday’s game

Conference tournaments can be grueling from a scheduling perspective. Tennessee played on Friday, Saturday, and will now play its third game in as many days with a lot on the line. Regardless, the work never stopped for Schwartz. Barnes recalled a conversation that he had with Schwartz on Friday night, which illustrates how hard he works as an assistant coach for Tennessee.

“Again, each one of my guys when they prepare, they all have their different way of doing it. They know how we want it done. For them to look at him and see because he — I called him last night at 11:30. I went back, and I said what are you doing? He said, ‘Coach, I just ordered a pot of coffee. If you need me, I’ll be up for the next three years.’ That’s what went through my mind.”

Shortly after Tennessee’s game against Texas A&M concludes, attention will shift to Selection Sunday. The full NCAA Tournament bracket will be revealed on Sunday evening at 6 p.m. ET. Tennessee is a projected three seed in the latest Bracketology from ESPN.