J. D. Barnett
Encyclopedia
J.D. Barnett is a former head basketball coach at several Division I institutions, the most high-profile being Virginia Commonwealth University, where his most notable win consisted of a buzzer-beater NCAA Tournament win over Jim Calhoun's Northeastern Huskies. He is also well known for being a mentor of Tubby Smith
, the current head coach at the University of Minnesota
. Most notably, Barnett taught Smith the philosophy of ball-line defense, which is a strategy that requires all defenders to stay between the line of the ball and the baseline. He was most recently the head coach and athletic director
at Division II Hawaii Pacific
.
Barnett graduated from Winona State University
in 1970, playing varsity baseball and basketball. He was inducted into the school's athletic hall of fame in 2002.
appearances. Below are his coaching records at each of the 4 schools he coached:
During his stay at Virginia Commonwealth, Barnett led the Rams to 5 NCAA tournament appearances, with 4 of those resulting in 1st round victories. In his first two years at Tulsa, he led the Golden Hurricane to back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances. Both of those, however, resulted in 1st round exits. That was the last time J.D. Barnett made the NCAAs.
Also, Maurice Cheeks
, former head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers
, was recruited by and played under Barnett while he was an assistant coach at West Texas State. While at West Texas State, Barnett is credited with organizing "The Cager Club", a support group which helped the basketball program.
In addition, Tom Izzo
was hired by Barnett to be his recruiting coordinator at Tulsa. Izzo left a low paying student assistant position with Jud Heathcote
to take the position with Tulsa. That experiment lasted all of seven weeks before Jud called Izzo offering him an assistant coaching position back in East Lansing.
Tubby Smith
Orlando "Tubby" Smith is an American college basketball coach. He is currently the men's basketball head coach at the University of Minnesota...
, the current head coach at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
. Most notably, Barnett taught Smith the philosophy of ball-line defense, which is a strategy that requires all defenders to stay between the line of the ball and the baseline. He was most recently the head coach and athletic director
Athletic director
An athletic director is an administrator at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs...
at Division II Hawaii Pacific
Hawaii Pacific University
Hawaii Pacific University, also known as HPU, is a private, Nonsectarian, coeducational university located in Honolulu, Hawaii and Kaneohe, Hawaii. HPU founded in 1965 as Hawaii Pacific College by Paul C.T. Loo, Eureka Forbes, Elizabeth W...
.
Barnett graduated from Winona State University
Winona State University
Winona State University is a comprehensive public university in Winona, Minnesota, United States, a college and river town located in picturesque bluff country on the Mississippi River, with around 8,900 enrolled undergraduate and graduate students...
in 1970, playing varsity baseball and basketball. He was inducted into the school's athletic hall of fame in 2002.
Coaching career
Barnett has a career record of 317-229 (.580) in Division I basketball, including 7 NCAA TournamentNCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
appearances. Below are his coaching records at each of the 4 schools he coached:
| Team | Years Coached | W-L Record |
|---|---|---|
| High Point High Point University High Point University is a private liberal arts university in High Point, North Carolina, USA, affiliated with the United Methodist Church.- Beginnings :... |
1971–1972 | 13-16 (.448) |
| Louisiana Tech | 1977–1979 | 23-29 (.442) |
| Virginia Commonwealth | 1979–1985 | 132-48 (.733) |
| University of Tulsa University of Tulsa The University of Tulsa is a private university awarding bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. It is currently ranked 75th among doctoral degree granting universities in the nation by US News and World Report and is listed as one of the "Best 366 Colleges" by... |
1985–1991 | 106-73 (.594) |
| Northwestern State | 1995–1999 | 55-79 (.410) |
| Hawaii Pacific University Hawaii Pacific University Hawaii Pacific University, also known as HPU, is a private, Nonsectarian, coeducational university located in Honolulu, Hawaii and Kaneohe, Hawaii. HPU founded in 1965 as Hawaii Pacific College by Paul C.T. Loo, Eureka Forbes, Elizabeth W... |
2004–2005 | 10-16 (.385) |
During his stay at Virginia Commonwealth, Barnett led the Rams to 5 NCAA tournament appearances, with 4 of those resulting in 1st round victories. In his first two years at Tulsa, he led the Golden Hurricane to back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances. Both of those, however, resulted in 1st round exits. That was the last time J.D. Barnett made the NCAAs.
Also, Maurice Cheeks
Maurice Cheeks
Maurice Edward "Mo" Cheeks is a retired American professional basketball player and assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder. He was the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association from May 23, 2005 to December 13, 2008...
, former head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
, was recruited by and played under Barnett while he was an assistant coach at West Texas State. While at West Texas State, Barnett is credited with organizing "The Cager Club", a support group which helped the basketball program.
In addition, Tom Izzo
Tom Izzo
Tom Izzo is an American college basketball coach. Since 1995, he has been the head coach for the Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team, presiding over a prolonged period of success....
was hired by Barnett to be his recruiting coordinator at Tulsa. Izzo left a low paying student assistant position with Jud Heathcote
Jud Heathcote
George Melvin "Jud" Heathcote is a former college basketball coach. He was a head coach for 24 seasons at the collegiate level: five at Montana and 19 at Michigan State...
to take the position with Tulsa. That experiment lasted all of seven weeks before Jud called Izzo offering him an assistant coaching position back in East Lansing.
Head coaching record
External links
- Barnett's coaching history Tubby Smith credits Barnett for ball-line defense