FULTON \u2013 Rod Barnes is back in his home state of Mississippi.<\/p>\n
Itawamba Community College introduced Barnes as its new head men\u2019s basketball coach on Tuesday. He replaces Darrian Wilson, who is now associate head coach at Jackson State.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the right place, it\u2019s the right time for me to come back to Mississippi,\u201d Barnes said. \u201cI\u2019ve been away a long time. When I got here, I just felt like things were right. I think the things are in place to take this program to another level. Just to have the opportunity to do it, it\u2019s humbling. You don\u2019t just, obviously, a lot of times get a chance to coach at your alma mater like I did. And now, to come back to later in my career and the chance to come back to Mississippi and coach at a place that I think is just ready for success, I think all the things that are in place for us to be successful here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Barnes played at Ole Miss and was the Rebels\u2019 head coach from 1998 to 2006. He led the Rebels to three NCAA Tournament berths, including a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2001. Barnes also had head coaching stints at Georgia State and Cal State Bakersfield.<\/p>\n
Barnes\u2019 all-time coaching record stands at 396-420. He brings not only years of coaching experience at the Division I level, but also recruiting.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have recruited junior colleges since I started coaching,\u201d Barnes said. \u201cAgain, that\u2019s over 35 years, so I know what the Division I coaches are looking for. I know what kind of character\u2019s needed to play at that level, I know what kind of work ethic and discipline (is needed). I think, right now, it\u2019s fitting for me to be at this level to help young men be prepared to take that next step. Because I\u2019ve recruited it so much for so many years, I\u2019m well aware of what needs to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Barnes is inheriting a good situation. The Indians went 49-13 in Wilson\u2019s two years at the helm. ICC is coming off a 2025-26 campaign in which it captured the MACCC championship and made it to the NJCAA Region 23 championship game.<\/p>\n
\u201cCoach Wilson, and right before him coach (Grant) Pate, did a great job of setting the table,\u201d Barnes said. \u201cThere are obviously standards here now. We just want to take that to the next level. Obviously, that\u2019s going to take a lot of work and a lot of support and a lot of things to happen for us. But, again, we have the right team, we have the right administration, we\u2019ll have the right staff and the right players as we start to recruit.\u201d<\/p>\n
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