Texas’ Rodney Terry received a significant honor on Friday. News broke that Terry was nominated to the Naismith Coach of the Year late season watchlist.
The national recognition Terry is receiving adds perspective to what he has accomplished this season. The former UTEP head coach began the season as an assistant under Chris Beard. On the day of the Rice game, the now acting head coach of the Texas Longhorns had chaos dropped in his lap.
When the Beard news broke it seemed like the beginning of a lost season for Texas. Somehow Terry managed to keep his team engaged as they gradually went from average to good again.
The first game after Beard saw Texas defeat Rice in overtime. From there, the Longhorns kept winning. Over the last couple months Texas defeated TCU, Baylor and Kansas State to top the Big 12 standings.
Doubt still remains about the team, but the Longhorns are presumably in contention for most or all of their preseason goals. Give Rodney Terry the credit for steadying the team’s focus this season.
Leading the way 🫡@RodneyTerry is on the @NaismithTrophy Coach of the Year late season watchlist 🤘 pic.twitter.com/Y7aJ6YxNMr
— Texas Men’s Basketball (@TexasMBB) February 17, 2023