Marcus Carr on Rodney Terry: 'He is my head coach'

Rodney Terry is the first coach in over 30 years to take his team to the Elite Eight without starting the season as head coach.

The Texas fanbase and Terry’s players have completely bought into Terry’s philosophy, and his players had nothing but great things to say about their interim head coach after defeating Xavier 83-71 in the Sweet 16.

“For the past two years for me, since day one, meeting [Rodney Terry], he’s been nothing but an amazing coach, a guy that’s pushed me to get better,” Texas star guard Marcus Carr said after the win. “He is my head coach.”

Terry took over as interim headman after Chris Beard was fired following his arrest on felony strangulation/suffocation-family violence charges that have since been dropped. Beard is now the head coach at Ole Miss, leaving Terry poised to take over as head coach without the interim tag.

Still, it doesn’t seem like Texas wants to hire Terry. He’s not a household coaching name — which is what a school like Texas believes they deserve despite Terry having one of the best coaching seasons in program history.

But when you have a coach like Terry, who everyone inside the program has rallied behind this season, and he leads you to a Final Four — you have to hire him. If Texas wins on Sunday, Rodney Terry has to be Texas’ head coach next season.

It’s been a wild ride for everyone involved. Sophomore guard Tyrese Hunter is one player that believes they have benefitted from Terry’s teachings in-game and on the practice court. Terry took a team that was by all means playing well before but lost its identity after their head coach was fired and turned them into a national championship contender without skipping a bear.

“We’re just living in the moment. He tells us every day, seize the moment. Live where your feet it. We try not to look too far down the road and see how much better we can get each and every day,” Hunter said. “He’s helped us since day one, since the summertime, keeping it real with us and helping us develop our games. Getting us ready for moments like this.”

Now, Texas takes on Miami with a chance for the Longhorns to make its first Final Four since 2003. Opening as a four-point favorite over the Hurricanes, tip-off is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 5:05 p.m. ET live on CBS.