Rod Barnes

Rod Barnes has had the privilege of being the head coach at three different stops in college basketball. Since 2001, he has run the program at Cal State Bakersfield. In 2016, the Roadrunners finished tied for second in the Western Athletic Conference, but triumphed in the conference tournament, and advanced to NCAA Tournament play. They finished the season 24-8 and 11-3 overall in the WAC. Barnes was named WAC Coach of the Year for his efforts. Prior to taking over the program, he was head coach at Georgia State for four seasons. Barnes had his greatest level of success however as the head coach at his alma materOle Miss from 1998-2006. He took the Rebels to the NCAA Tournament in three of his first four seasons. In 2001, Ole Miss advanced all the way to the Sweet 16 after winning the SEC West. They finished 27-8 overall and Barnes was named SEC Coach of the Year and Naismith College Coach of the Year. Before becoming the head coach in Oxford, he was an Ole Miss assistant for five years. His coaching career actually began at Livingston University. As a player, Barnes averaged 19 points a game during his senior season and was an All-SEC performer. He was the first player in Rebels history to accumulate 500 points, 100 assists, and 100 rebounds in a season. In 2012, Barnes was inducted into the Ole Miss Hall of Fame.