Rick Barnes will reportedly need to fire assistants to keep his job

Rick Barnes

If Texas men's basketball coach Rick Barnes wasn't on the hot seat before, he officially is now.

According to the Austin American-Statesman, Barnes and Texas athletic director Steve Patterson had two face-to-face meetings recently to discuss possible changes to Barnes' staff. Patterson reportedly told Barnes that if he doesn't make changes, then Patterson will find a new head coach.

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The winningest coach in Texas history, Barnes has failed to live up to the high expectations of Texas athletics in recent years. The Longhorns have made it past the Round of 32 just once in his past eight trips to the NCAA Tournament.

After beginning the season 11-2 and rising to No. 11 in the nation, the Longhorns struggled in Big 12 Conference play, with a pair of four-game losing streaks. Despite finishing 8-10 in the Big 12, the Longhorns were invited to the NCAA Tournament as an 11-seed. They lost in the Round of 64 to Butler. 

Barnes, 60, is under contract through March 2019 after receiving an extension after last season. If Patterson decides to part ways early, Barnes is due a $1.75 million buyout. That number drops to $1.5 million after April 1, according to the American-Statesman.

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