AUBURN, Ala.— Auburn’s Tony Barbee doesn’t hesitate when asked about the significance of becoming the school’s first Black head basketball coach.
After all, it’s not his first time breaking the color barrier.
“Absolutely there is. Very similar to the significance of me being the first African-American coach at UTEP, with the Glory Road tradition and the background,” Barbee said, referring to the Texas Western (now UTEP) team that broke a color barrier by winning a national title in 1966 with five Black starters.
“And it’s very similar here. And I’m very honored and privileged and humbled to be the first African-American coach here at Auburn. And I know what it means to this community, but at the end of the day, this is about the success we’re going to have in this community on the court and in the classroom.”
Athletic director Jay Jacobs said after Barbee was introduced Thursday evening that race had nothing to do with the hire.
“My objective was to hire the best coach for Auburn,” Jacobs said.
But he and Auburn drew ire from some – including famous hoops alum Charles Barkley – 15 months ago after hiring Gene Chizik, a White man, over Turner Gill, who is Black.
