Tony Barbee, a 38-year-old up-and-comer who rejuvenated UTEP basketball over the past four seasons, will take over another rebuilding project as the new head coach at Auburn.

Barbee will be formally introduced today as the Tigers’ 20th coach in program history at the new Auburn Arena.

Barbee is Auburn’s first black basketball coach in program history, and will join track coach Ralph Spry Jr. as the only two minority head coaches at the university.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity to join the Auburn Family and proud to be the next head coach at Auburn,” Barbee said in a university statement. “We have challenges in front of us, but we also have great opportunities with everything Auburn has to offer — a great university, outstanding community, tremendous fan support and a terrific new arena and practice facility.

“The time is now to take Auburn basketball to new heights.”

Auburn wasn’t the only school after Barbee, as his name was also linked to openings at DePaul and Iowa. Barbee, who was making $300,000
annually at UTEP, is likely due for a big raise at Auburn. Athletic director Jay Jacobs said the Tigers would be competitive in the SEC arena of
coaching salaries after letting go of Jeff Lebo, whomade an SEC-low $785,000 a year.

Neither the terms nor the length of Barbee’s contract were not made available by the university.

Barbee was one of at least four serious candidates in the mix. North Texas’ Johnny Jones interviewed for the job and would have accepted the position if offered, according to a source close to Jones. The Tigers also showed interest in Minnesota’s Tubby Smith and former Auburn
superstar Chuck Person, who interviewed for the job Wednesday night.

Wright State’s Brad Brownell, Morehead State’s Donnie Tyndall, Sam Houston State’s Bob Marlin and former New Mexico State coach Reggie Theus also reportedly interviewed for the job.

“Coach Barbee has a vision of competing for championships at Auburn, and the passion to get us there,” athletic director Jay Jacobs said. “He is a phenomenal coach, an outstanding recruiter and a fierce competitor.”

Barbee spent four seasons at UTEP, compiling an 82-52 record. The Miners just pulled off one of their best seasons in recent history, as they went 26-7, won the Conference USA regular season title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The Miners, a 12-seed, bowed out in the first round last Thursday in a loss to Butler.

Barbee, an Indianapolis native, played his college ball at UMass under John Calipari and then had his career elevated when he served as an assistant with him at Memphis. Barbee was Calipari’s top recruiter with the Tigers and was considered one of the best in the nation before moving on to UTEP in 2006.

Rivals.com ranked Barbee as the No. 3 recruiter in the country while he was at Memphis.

He hasn’t forgotten how to recruit as the head coach at UTEP, either. Two of Barbee’s players this season, center Derrick Caracter and guard
Randy Culpepper, are considered potential 2010 NBA Draft selections if they opt to go pro one year early.

Barbee’s teams have been known for toughness on defense and rebounding.

UTEP ranked 13th in the country in field goal percentage defense and 17th in steals.

“The bottom line is Tony Barbee is a winner,” Jacobs said. “We could not be happier to have him as the new face of Auburn basketball as we prepare to open a new era in a new arena next season.”

Though Jacobs originally said the Tigers’ search could last two or three weeks, only 12 days elapsed since Lebo, who went 96-93 over six seasons, was fired. The search that landed head football coach Gene Chizik lasted just 10.

Lebo was hired earlier this week as East Carolina’s new head coach. Auburn owes him $1.5 million over the next three seasons.

The Barbee File
Born: Aug. 10, 1971
Hometown: Indianapolis
Family: Holly, wife; daughter Hayden; son Andrew
Education: B.A. from
Massachusetts (1993)
Playing Experience:
Massachusetts (1989-93)
Coaching Experience:
1995-96: UMass, GA
1996-98: UMass, Assistant
1998-99: Wyoming, Assistant
1999-00: UMass, Assistant
2000-06: Memphis, Assistant
2006-10: UTEP, Head Coach
Head Coaching Record:
2006-07: 14-17
2007-08: 19-14
2008-09: 23-14
2009-10: 26-7
Overall: 82-52