Rick Barnes’ coaching staff is complete according to a release from Tennessee. Joining him on the bench this season will be Rob Lanier, Chris Ogden and Desmond Oliver. Lanier and Ogden coached with Barnes at Texas while Oliver joins Tennessee’s staff after spending the last five seasons at Charlotte.
Lanier spent the last four years in Austin with Barnes where he developed a reputation as one of the nation’s best recruiters. In total, he helped sign eight McDonald’s All-Americans has seen 10 players that he either signed or coached selected in the NBA Draft.
His success wasn’t limited to Texas. Lanier also has coaching stops as an assistant at Florida (2007-10), Virginia (2005-07), Rutgers (1997-99), St. Bonaventure (1992-97) and Niagara (1990-92) on his resume. The 46-year-old Lanier served as the head coach of Siena from 2001 to 2005 and led them to one NCAA Tournament during his tenure.
Like Lanier, Chris Ogden followed Barnes from Texas to Tennessee. Before his coaching career, Ogden played for Barnes at Texas where he helped lead the Longhorns to the Final Four as a senior (2003). Ogden served as a student assistant upon graduation before serving as an administrative assistant from 2004 to 2008. Barnes promoted Ogden to a full-time assistant in 2008 – a role Ogden held the last seven seasons.
At Texas Ogden helped recruit five classes ranked in the top-10 nationally per ESPN. He has coached six players who have been selected in the NBA Draft.
Desmond Oliver brings 19 years of Division 1 coaching experience with him to Tennessee. Prior to his time at Charlotte, he worked in SEC country as an administrative assistant at Georgia. All told, Oliver’s impressive resume includes stops at St. Bonaventure (2000-01), Rhode Island (2001-04), Charlotte (2010-15), Texas A&M (1997-98), Cornell (1998-00), Canisius (2009-10) and Georgia (2004-09).
“I’m excited about this group of coaches we’ve been able to assemble,” Barnes said in a Tennessee release. “Dave Hart and our administration have enabled us to bring in a staff that not only will excel in the areas of player development, recruiting and game management, but will also collectively serve as a tremendously positive group of mentors for the young men in our program. I have the utmost trust and confidence in each of them, and we’re all eager to give our all for Tennessee each and every day.”
