The University of Tennessee has awarded men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes a lifetime contract, the school announced on 28 August. The agreement pays the 71-year-old $6 million a year and automatically renews each 15 April to preserve a rolling three-year term, effectively keeping Barnes in Knoxville for the remainder of his career unless he chooses to retire or the university opts to terminate the pact. Barnes has compiled a 232-109 record in 10 seasons with the Volunteers and led the program to consecutive Elite Eight appearances, six 25-win seasons and three Southeastern Conference titles. Tennessee has reached seven straight NCAA tournaments under his tenure, never seeded lower than fifth. The new deal lifts Barnes to seventh on the list of highest-paid coaches in men’s college basketball, according to USA TODAY’s database. If the university were to dismiss him without cause before 15 April 2028, it would owe the full value of the contract; no buyout is owed after that date. Barnes would owe Tennessee $1 million per remaining year if he left for another head-coaching job within two years of departure.