Rodney Terry: Becoming Texas' men's basketball head coach is 'a dream come true'
Fittingly for Rodney Terry, nothing shone brighter at his introductory press conference as the new Texas men’s basketball coach than the gold lapel pin in the shape of a longhorn that was pinned to his jacket.
Austin has always held a special place in his heart, Terry told the dozens of supporters that joined media members, current and former players and various Texas dignitaries Tuesday in the Carpenter-Winkel Centennial Room overlooking the field at Royal-Memorial Stadium. Becoming the 26th men’s basketball coach in school history marks the fulfillment of almost a life-long goal, said Terry, who spent much of this season coaching on an interim basis after the school fired Chris Beard on Jan. 5.
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“Today marks the journey of a new, exciting chapter in a 20-plus year relationship that I've had on the Forty Acres,” Terry said. “I was always one of those guys that wanted to be an elite, high major coach. That was always a goal and, man, I’m getting the chance to live that out right here at the University of Texas. I'm so proud and so honored to have that opportunity.”
Terry, who celebrated his 55th birthday on Monday with his mother and other family and friends, reached an agreement that same day with Texas on a five-year, $15.3 million contract, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. The deal came the day after the Longhorns' 88-81 loss to Miami in the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight.
“I was hoping for the Final Four for a birthday present,” Terry said with a laugh.
Motioning at his players, Terry said: “That would have been an incredible birthday present, right? I mean, we worked our tails off, and the guys were right there.”
Terry thanked his players for their dedication and diligence during a trying season, and he also thanked a litany of former Texas players and coaches such as T.J. Ford, LaMarcus Aldridge, Rick Barnes, Leon Black and Rodney Page, the pioneering women’s basketball coach for Texas in the 1970s who became the first Black head coach of any sport at Texas.
Terry also thanked Beard and said that they talked on Monday night.
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Texas native officially home in Austin
A native of Angleton who played his college ball at St. Edward’s University in Austin, Terry took his first job with Texas in 2002 as part of then head coach Rick Barnes’ staff. After eight seasons as an assistant, he spent 11 years as a head coach at Fresno State and UTEP, where he tallied a cumulative record of 163-156 before returning to Texas as an assistant for Beard prior to last season.
But even in his decade away from Austin, Terry said, he never truly traveled far from his adopted hometown. He bought a house in Austin even before he left his job at UTEP, and he kept a picture of a longhorn prominently displayed in his video room at his home in El Paso.
“I purchased the home because I love this city and I love this community,” he said. “I knew no matter where my journey took me, I knew one day I wanted to continue to be here.”
Terry’s journey took a sudden twist in December following Beard’s arrest for a felony domestic violence charge against a family member the day of a game against Rice on Dec. 12. With Terry serving as acting head coach, a stunned Texas squad showed its grit in an 87-81 win over the Owls.
On that day, Terry also showed Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte that he’d be a serious candidate for the head-coaching job, even though Del Conte insisted throughout the season that no decision would be made until after the Longhorns’ final game.
“We are here today because a whistle was given to you on Dec. 12, but you took that whistle and you earned it,” Del Conte said to Terry prior to introducing him as the new head coach.
After Terry became the interim head coach in January, the team began hitting its stride. The Longhorns finished second in the Big 12, won the Big 12 Tournament and reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2008.
“You had a very long job interview,” Texas President Jay Hartzell said. “And I would say you nailed it, and you won with class, dignity and grace. The family spirit, the culture of this team and the way they rally behind their leader got us here today, and we're proud to be here. We look forward to the future.”
Terry ‘prepared for opportunity’ as he readies for offseason
The future arrives quickly in college basketball, especially in this era of the transfer portal. Terry said he wants to keep his current coaching staff intact, and he said he will individually talk with every Texas player eligible to return and stress his importance to the program.
Recruiting never stops, whether it’s at the high-school level or in the portal. Terry said he spent part of his birthday evening chatting with a few portal prospects who could fit in well at Texas next season. That’s part of the process in today’s game, he said.
“You have to be prepared for opportunity,” Terry said. “I was prepared for this opportunity, and my time in Fresno and my time at UTEP helped prepare me for this opportunity. I’ve had the chance to be here during some of the best seasons of Texas basketball. No one knows this place better than me in terms of the landscape.
“I’m just blessed to be here and have an opportunity of a lifetime to be the head coach. It’s a dream come true for a native Texan, a Texas guy through and through.”
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Rodney Terry says becoming men's basketball coach 'a dream come true'
