FULTON – Rod Barnes is back in his home state of Mississippi.
Itawamba Community College introduced Barnes as its new head men’s basketball coach on Tuesday. He replaces Darrian Wilson, who is now associate head coach at Jackson State.
“It’s the right place, it’s the right time for me to come back to Mississippi,” Barnes said. “I’ve been away a long time. When I got here, I just felt like things were right. I think the things are in place to take this program to another level. Just to have the opportunity to do it, it’s humbling. You don’t just, obviously, a lot of times get a chance to coach at your alma mater like I did. And now, to come back to later in my career and the chance to come back to Mississippi and coach at a place that I think is just ready for success, I think all the things that are in place for us to be successful here.”
Barnes played at Ole Miss and was the Rebels’ head coach from 1998 to 2006. He led the Rebels to three NCAA Tournament berths, including a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2001. Barnes also had head coaching stints at Georgia State and Cal State Bakersfield.
Barnes’ all-time coaching record stands at 396-420. He brings not only years of coaching experience at the Division I level, but also recruiting.
“I have recruited junior colleges since I started coaching,” Barnes said. “Again, that’s over 35 years, so I know what the Division I coaches are looking for. I know what kind of character’s needed to play at that level, I know what kind of work ethic and discipline (is needed). I think, right now, it’s fitting for me to be at this level to help young men be prepared to take that next step. Because I’ve recruited it so much for so many years, I’m well aware of what needs to happen.”
Barnes is inheriting a good situation. The Indians went 49-13 in Wilson’s two years at the helm. ICC is coming off a 2025-26 campaign in which it captured the MACCC championship and made it to the NJCAA Region 23 championship game.
“Coach Wilson, and right before him coach (Grant) Pate, did a great job of setting the table,” Barnes said. “There are obviously standards here now. We just want to take that to the next level. Obviously, that’s going to take a lot of work and a lot of support and a lot of things to happen for us. But, again, we have the right team, we have the right administration, we’ll have the right staff and the right players as we start to recruit.”
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