The good news for Tennessee basketball continues as a day after advancing to his first Sweet 16 at Tennessee, Rick Barnes has been named National Coach of the Year by the United States Basketball Writers Association.

Barnes will be presented with the award during a ceremony in St. Louis on Monday, April 15 at the Missouri Athletic Club.

It should be noted that this isn’t the first major honor for Barnes this season as the Tennessee coach was also honored as a finalist for the Werner Ladder Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year after leading the Volunteers to a 31-5 record, an appearance in the SEC Championship Game final and now winning two games in the 2019 NCAA Tournament.

Under Barnes’ leadership, junior Grant Williams won his second SEC Player of the Year award and has been named as a First-Team All-American. Senior Admiral Schofield was also named a First-Team All-SEC Player this season.

Tennessee will face Purdue on Thursday night for the right to advance to the Elite Eight.