Rodney Terry had always dreamed of becoming a head basketball coach at a top-tier university. After years of hard work as an assistant coach – and on his 54th birthday – his dream finally came true yesterday when he was announced as the new head coach of the University of Texas men’s basketball team. Terry and Texas agreed to terms on a five-year contract worth $15.3 million. Terry is only the 2nd Black Head Coach at the University. 2023 is off to an exceptionally good start for Terry as he was also named Sporting News’ College Basketball Coach of the Year.
It was a sunny day in Austin, Texas when the university’s athletic director, Chris Del Conte, called a press conference to make the announcement. A large crowd had gathered outside the university’s basketball arena, eagerly awaiting the news.
As Terry walked onto the stage, the crowd erupted into applause. He was a familiar face to many of the fans, having spent several years as an assistant coach at the University of Texas before leaving to take on the head coaching position at Fresno State.
Rodney looked out over the crowd, a huge grin spreading across his face. “I am so excited to be back here at the University of Texas,” he said. “I want to thank Chris Del Conte and the rest of the university administration for giving me this incredible opportunity.”
I promise you that I will do everything in my power to build a winning team here at UT
The fans (which included his sister, mother, and girlfriend, his current players, ex-players like point guard T.J. Ford and forward LaMarcus Aldridge, and ex-coaches like Jody Conradt) cheered and clapped, thrilled to have Rodney back in Texas.
“I promise you that I will do everything in my power to build a winning team here at UT,” Rodney continued. “We have the talent and the resources to compete at the highest level, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Terry took what was an almost impossible job under the most adverse circumstances, replacing former Coach Beard who was suspended — and later fired — following an a犀利士
rrest on felony domestic violence charges in early December. Terry turned his team into an outstanding Elite Eight club that came within a whisper of the school’s first Final Four since 2003.
As the press conference came to a close, Rodney was greeted by his new team. They were eager to get to work with their new coach, and Rodney was equally eager to get started. He knew that he had big shoes to fill, but he was confident in his abilities and excited for the challenge.
