& Netted 100 wins in first 5 years, first time in school history to win 100 in five years
* Won SEC Western Division title
@ Naismith Coach of the Year, SEC Coach of Year, Most wins in school history, No. 9 in final poll
# First-ever SEC regular season title in school history

Rod Barnes
Men's Basketball Coach
His distinguished coaching career includes these accomplishments and numbers:

? Named Naismith National Coach of the Year (2001).
? Is only person in SEC history to be named both All-SEC player and SEC Coach of the Year.
? Compiled a career head coaching record of 141-109 (.564) in SEC.
? Earned four postseason bids as head coach, advancing to Sweet 16 in 2001, and finished No. 9 in the final USA Today/ESPN poll. That is still highest ever in Ole Miss history.
? Produced three 20-win seasons, including school-record 27-win season in 2001.
? Won 100 games in five-year span that was a first-ever accomplishment in school history.
? Chosen as assistant coach for the 2001 USA Basketball team at the World University Games (in Beijing, China).
? A major component as an assistant coach on two 20-win seasons and first place division teams at Ole Miss prior to being named head coach. Those were first two regular season titles in school history.
? In 13 seasons at Ole Miss, teams had seven winning seasons, four NCAA bids, two NIT bids and finished first in division three times. The 12 SEC wins in 1997-98 are a school record and the 11 wins in 2001 tie for second most.
? He coached the two teams that scored the most points in Ole Miss history with the 1998-99 team scoring 2,540 points and the 2000-01 team putting up 2,496 points.
? His winning percentage is the best ever among Ole Miss coaches with five or more years and his 141 wins in eight years are four shy of the school record of B. L. Graham (145-169).

As a basketball player, Barnes also showed his excellence:

? As senior at Ole Miss in 1987-88, he was All-SEC and honorable mention All-America pick. He was a unanimous All-SEC choice and finished third in Player of the Year balloting. His senior totals included 551 points (19.0), 121 rebounds (4.2) and 112 assists (3.9).
? First player in Ole Miss history to score 500 points, get 100 rebounds and make 100 assists in a season.
? Started 86 consecutive games over final three seasons at Ole Miss and played 103 games. Career totals included 1,201 points (11.7 per game) and 456 assists.
? His 4.4 career assist average is third best in school history.
? Shot 84.1 percent from free throw line as a senior to rank among SEC leaders and post the sixth best total in school history. He shot 80.7 as a sophomore.
? Was a three-time All-State high school player at Bentonia High (Miss.) with two state titles.
? Rodrick Barnes was born January 8, 1966.

What Coach Barnes is Saying:
"I have come here to win games and build productive young men. I can not do this alone. I can only fill one seat. I need Georgia State fans to help fill the others. When we make it to the NCAA tournaments, then we can all say that we had a part in it. I encourage our students, our faculty, our staff, our alumni, and our boosters to join us now on the ground floor."

"I like what I see here with a large number of returning players. They need to understand the little things it takes to win consistently. We will add more pieces and be ready to compete right away. If I didn't think I could win more than I lose here, I would not have accepted."

"My teams play with energy on both ends of the basketball court. My emphasis will always be on defense. I'll tell them that when the other team gets off the bus, someone should be guarding them, and I don't mean the security guards. You have to play defense to win ball games."

"Perhaps the biggest challenge today is for the present athletes to accept me because things will be different. They have to make that transition. It looks like we have enough physical talent on our roster to win now. I did not accept this job as a temporary job. I think I can build this to one of the better programs in the Colonial Athletic Association and the country."

What Others are Saying:

"Rod Barnes has been a very successful head coach and was national coach of the year. His basketball knowledge, his ability to recruit and the fact that he's a great human being will bring a lot to our program," said Oklahoma head coach Jeff Capel (2006). "I've always had a lot of respect for Coach Barnes. His teams were always very good defensively. They got after you, they were tough, they were disciplined and they played with passion."

"Rod Barnes came to Ole Miss as a young, thin freshman. Many people questioned whether he could play Southeastern Conference basketball. He became an All-Southeastern Conference player and the physical, spiritual and moral leader of his team, " said University of Mississippi Chancellor Robert C. Khayat. "He is a person we have known for many years and admired him, a person who has made incredible contributions to this University."

"Our athletics strategic plan is to develop one of the top teams in the Colonial Athletic Association and compete regularly for post season opportunites," Georgia State Director of Athletics Mary McElroy noted. "We know Coach Barnes knows what discipline, attitudes and work habits it takes to do that and we are delighted to have him lead our Georgia State program. His reputation for academics and graduation for the student-athletics also shows he understands what the college experience is about. He has been successful as both a player and a coach and our student-athletes should benefit from his knowledge and experience."