Texas coach Rodney Terry says KU’s Norm Roberts did ‘great job’ filling in for Self

Rodney Terry stays true to himself no matter the situation.

So, when the former Texas associate head coach was named interim coach on December 12, he didn’t change his demeanor. Terry took over for former UT coach Chris Beard, who was eventually fired in January (and hired by Ole Miss in early March) following an arrest on a domestic violence charge that was later dropped.

“I think the biggest thing any time you’re in a situation that I was in, ... you just have to be yourself,” Terry said at a news conference in Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center on Thursday. “I don’t think you try to be something that you’re not.

“Chris is a great coach, but I couldn’t be Beard. Beard is totally different than myself.”

Terry has since led the Longhorns to a 21-7 record, including a second-place finish in the Big 12 regular season, Big 12 Tournament title and NCAA Tournament run into the second weekend.

No. 2-seeded Texas will play No. 3 Xavier in the Sweet 16 on Friday at T-Mobile Center.

Despite having previous head coaching experience at UTEP and Fresno State, Terry faced his fair share of challenges.

“For myself, I just had to be Rodney Terry,” Terry said. “And I think that boded well with our guys in terms of them really trying to buy into what we were trying to get done. We still had a whole season to play, and everything was still in front of us.

“So I think that was one thing that was a challenge that I’m not sure how the guys thought that that would turn out. I think the other thing was continuing to have great chemistry among your staff. I think our staff, from the start, we were all committed to trying ... to have a great season and take this team as far as we could take them.”

One of the most significant ways Terry connected with the team? He sat down with the captains and leaders to talk things out.

They discussed his leadership style, goals and expectations for the team and how to keep building off the success of earlier in the season.

In many ways, Terry’s situation was similar to what Kansas acting coach Norm Roberts faced.

Roberts became KU’s acting coach before the Big 12 Tournament as KU coach Bill Self recovered from a heart catheterization. Earlier in the season, Roberts led Kansas to a 4-0 record after Self served a four-game school-imposed suspension due to the ongoing NCAA case.

Kansas went to the Round of 32 before the Jayhawks ultimately fell to Arkansas 72-71.

“Norm’s been a head coach, so he knows what that entails in terms of leading a program,” Terry said. “I thought he did a very admirable job down the stretch in leading KU.

“You have a Hall of Fame coach that you’re working with in Coach Self, that we have the utmost respect for. Hopefully he’s doing well as well. Sending prayers to him and his family. But you have a quality guy in Norm Roberts who’s been a part of the program and has been very instrumental in the success of that program at a very high level.”

That was one similarity Terry saw between his situation at Texas and Roberts’ one at KU.

Terry pointed out how both he and Roberts had previous head-coaching jobs and coaching experiences at their respective schools. Roberts was a head coach at St. John’s from 2004-10 and Queens College (1991-95). Terry’s previous experiences allowed him to command respect in his locker room — something he believes Roberts had as well.

“He’s also, I’m sure, had a voice as well,“ Terry said of Roberts. “I had a voice. I was already coaching. It wasn’t like you were just all of a sudden sprung in front of the team. I was already coaching the team, just on the defensive side of the ball and in front of those guys.

“I’m sure Norm, likewise, was in front of those guys. When you’re able to do that, it makes a smoother transition in terms of the guys understanding your style and also being held accountable.”

Although KU’s season ended before many expected, Terry was impressed with Roberts’ coaching. Of course, Terry and Roberts also coached against each other in the Big 12 Tournament final, which Terry’s Texas squad won.

“I thought Norm did a great job,” Terry said. “ It probably wasn’t an easy situation for him as well because you’re never expecting what happened to Coach Self to happen during the season, at the most pivotal time of the season as well. But I thought he did a great job.”

The Star’s Blair Kerkhoff also contributed to this report.