DeLoss Dodds, University of Texas athletic director, says he was ready for Rick Barnes when the Final Four-bound Longhorn men’s basketball coach jokingly suggested recently that it was time to renegotiate his 1-year-old contract.
“I said, ‘Aren’t you the guy who got beat by the guy who had to turn his salary back in because he had a bad season?’ Dodds recalled, referring to Texas Tech Coach Bob Knight, whose Red Raiders defeated Texas in the Big 12 Conference tournament. “He (Barnes) wasn’t so smart after that.”
But Dodds said Tuesday that Barnes, who last year received a new 7-year deal worth $950,000 annually, will be well compensated for getting Texas to its first Final Four since 1947. Barnes already has earned $175,000 in incentives for getting the Longhorns this far.
“We’ve always taken care of Rick, and we’ll continue to take care of him,” Dodds said, adding that a pay raise would come shortly before Barnes’ pay period for the 2003-04 school year kicks in on Sept. 1.
Dodds issued a warning of sorts to any school wishing to try to hire Barnes away.
“This is a hard place to get somebody to leave,” Dodds said of Texas. “I’m not saying people won’t call. But if they come after one of our people, they’d better be ready for a struggle.”
