Rodney Terry reflects on the emotions of rollercoaster 2022-2023 season

Texas’ 2022-23 season was full of highs and lows. The high came with an Elite Eight appearance, but the low came when head coach Chris Beard was suspended and later fired mid-season.

That led Texas to promote assistant Rodney Terry to interim head coach for the remainder of the year. Under his leadership, the Longhorns won the Big 12 en route to the Elite Eight and had a 22-8 record after the transition.

Now the full-time coach, Terry looked back on the rollercoaster that was this past season. As he did, he made sure to give credit to the players for handling everything so well.

“I think, obviously, we set out with our team a year ago and they had aspirations and goals, just like all teams throughout the country,” Terry said on The Field of 68 with Rob Dauster. “And that was to try to win a Big 12 championship and try to win a national championship. And I think through it all, I think our group really was one of the groups that probably more than anybody in the country persevered and held all the different adversity that we need to handle throughout the course of the season.

“Whether it be in games or off the court, I thought I guys really excelled at a very high level and really, just stayed the course, man. Putting themselves in position to try to attain all the goals that they wanted for that season.”

As Texas put together a successful stretch under Terry, fans were vocal in their support for him to get the job full-time. However, athletic director Chris Del Conte said the administration decided to wait until the season ended before announcing a decision. It proved to be an easy one as Terry ditched the interim tag.

Just this week, Terry completed the 2023-24 Texas roster by landing a commitment from UCF transfer Ithiel Horton. He’s the latest addition via the transfer portal, part of a class headlined by former Oral Roberts guard Max Abmas — the No. 2-ranked transfer to enter the portal this cycle, according to the On3 Transfer Portal Rankings. All told, Texas has five transfers coming aboard.

But the biggest additions were already on the roster. Dylan Disu and Tyrese Hunter are both back after playing key roles in 2022-23 and are sure to play key roles once again. That gives Terry and Texas a blend of returning talent with impressive newcomers as he works through his first full offseason as head coach.