MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Tollison, Chamberlin

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING OLE MISS BASKETBALL COACH ROD BARNES FOR BEING NAMED THE 2001 NAISMITH NATIONAL MEN'S COACH OF THE YEAR AND THE SEC COACH OF THE YEAR.

WHEREAS, Ole Miss' Rod Barnes was named the 2001 Naismith National Men's Coach of the Year, announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club; the award is Barnes' second National Coach of the Year honor, as he was named CollegeInsider.com's recipient on March 11, 2001; and

WHEREAS, across the country, there are many outstanding coaches who are doing incredible jobs with their teams and programs, and for Coach Barnes to receive this award reflects on everybody associated with the Ole Miss basketball program - the players, assistant coaches and staff; and

WHEREAS, all Naismith award recipients will be honored at a banquet in Atlanta in early April 2001; and

WHEREAS, Barnes was one of 20 finalists for the Naismith National Coach of the Year Award, and one of three Southeastern Conference coaches up for the honor; and

WHEREAS, Barnes was also named the SEC Coach of the Year by the league's coaches, Associated Press and CollegeInsider.com; and

WHEREAS, this season, Barnes has guided the Rebels to a 27-8 overall record, an 11-5 SEC mark and the SEC Western Division crown. The SEC West title was Ole Miss' third in the last five years. Ole Miss, which was ranked No. 14 in the Associated Press (AP) Top 25 poll and No. 13 in ESPN/USA Today Top 25 poll, advanced to the SEC Championship Game against Kentucky, advanced to its first-ever NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearance and met

No. 4 Arizona (25-7) in the Midwest Regional semifinals on Friday, March 23, 2001, losing 65-55 in a very hard-fought game, televised by CBS; the Rebels were the No. 3 seed, while Arizona was the No. 2 seed; and

WHEREAS, on February 17, 2001, Barnes won his 60th game as the Rebel mentor and reached the 60-win milestone, the fastest of any head coach in Ole Miss history. Barnes' 60th victory was a 67-61 win over South Carolina. Barnes' coaching record now stands at 66-35; and

WHEREAS, Barnes played four seasons for the Rebel program from 1984-1988. During his playing career, Barnes earned All-SEC honors and All-America honorable mention accolades from The Sporting News in 1988. He finished third in the coaches' balloting for SEC Player of the Year in 1988; and

WHEREAS, the Naismith Awards, in their 33rd year, are given in honor of the inventor of the game of basketball, Dr. James Naismith. The awards program was founded by the Atlanta Tipoff Club, an organization dedicated to recognizing the achievements of student-athletes in basketball. The awards, including Men's and Women's College Player of the Year, Men's and Women's Coach of the Year, Male and Female Prep Player of the Year, and Men's and Women's Official of the Year, are determined by a vote of the Naismith Board of Selectors. In addition, the Board of Selectors, comprised of a select group of leading basketball coaches, journalists and administrators, honors a Men's and Women's Outstanding Contributor to Basketball; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize the outstanding accomplishments of this Mississippian who is a leader in the game of college basketball, who makes the game so exciting and brings honor to the University of Mississippi, his community and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Ole Miss Rebel Basketball Coach Rod Barnes for being named the 2001 Naismith National Men's Coach of the Year and the SEC Coach of the Year, and wish him and his outstanding group of student-athletes continued success in future seasons.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to Coach Rod Barnes and his family, Chancellor Robert Khayat on behalf of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.