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Tennessee basketball: Ranking all four Vols coaches by performance in 2010s decade

By Caleb Calhoun

COLUMBUS, OHIO - MARCH 22: Head coach Rick Barnes of the Tennessee Volunteers looks on during the second half against the Colgate Raiders in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - MARCH 22: Head coach Rick Barnes of the Tennessee Volunteers looks on during the second half against the Colgate Raiders in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images /

Pick Analysis. 2. 534. Scouting Report. 2011-2014. 63-41 (32-20). Cuonzo Martin. player

It’s easy to understand now why Tennessee basketball fans were clamoring for Cuonzo Martin to be fired in 2014 and have Bruce Pearl brought back. That was a unique situation that nobody outside of Vol Nation understands.

However, without the benefit of hindsight, Martin did a solid job. He inherited a mess because of the NCAA infractions that got Pearl fired. The Vols, after a slow start in 2011-2012, rebounded to finish second in the SEC and just miss the NCAA Tournament.

They figured to take the next step in 2012-2013, but one of Martin’s key players, Jeronne Maymon, suffered a season-ending injury. That set them back again and resulted in another late-season turnaround with them just missing the NCAA Tournament.

In 2013-2014, Maymon had to get back into basketball shape, and as he did, Robert Hubbs III, a five-star Martin wanted to build his backcourt around, suffered a season-ending injury. Simply put, Martin couldn’t catch a break, but his team still rebounded that year, amidst the petition to fire him and bring back Pearl, to make the Sweet Sixteen.

Martin went 19-15, 20-13 and 24-13 in three years on Rocky Top. He was a bad call from an Elite Eight appearance in 2014. Now, he’s not a better coach than Pearl, and he left UT in horrible shape. Pearl also did more for UT overall. But comparing what they did this decade alone, Martin did a better job when you look at everything he dealt with. So we have to give him the nod.

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