Rodney Terry Finalizing Deal to Become Texas’ Full-Time Head Coach: Report
Texas basketball hadn’t been to the Sweet 16 since 2008, and under interim head coach Rodney Terry, the Longhorns made the Elite Eight and was in spitting distance of making the Final Four.
According to Jon Rothstein of College Hoops Today, that run was enough to convince Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte that Terry was the right man for the full-time job in Austin.
“Rodney Terry is finalizing a deal to become the next head coach at Texas, a source told College Hoops Today on Monday,” Rothstein writes. “A press conference is expected this week.
“Terry led the Longhorns to a 22-8 record this season and their first appearance in the Elite Eight since 2008. He also led Texas to a Big 12 Tournament title for only the second time in program history after taking over in the middle of the season for Chris Beard.“
Just before the NCAA Tournament started, it was reported that Terry needed to make a deep run in order to earn the job, despite leading the Longhorns to a No. 2 overall seed and a Big 12 Tournament Championship.
Jeff Goodman of The Field of 68 said that Terry and the Longhorns need to make a deep run in March for him to secure the full-time gig.
“They’re going to swing for some of the big boys, if they don’t hire Rodney Terry,” Goodman said. “If Rodney Terry goes deep, they’re going to have to give it to Rodney Terry. They don’t want to. Chris Del Conte doesn’t want to ultimately.
“But he may have no choice if Rodney Terry goes deep, second weekend or beyond. If not, they’re going to try to swing for the fences.”
Then, after Texas defeated Xavier to advance to the Elite Eight, Rothstein tweeted that Terry “
deserved the job now.” Well, it appears that he will get it, which is fantastic news for the former assistant.
Texas finished the 2022-23 season at 29-9, after being eliminated by Miami on Sunday night, knocking out the final remaining Big 12 team in the NCAA Tournament.
