Tech\’s John Barnes Moving On to Wisconsin

HOUGHTON, Mich. — Michigan Tech head women’s basketball coach John Barnes has resigned to accept an assistant women’s basketball coaching position at Wisconsin. The three-time Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year wraps up his seven-year career with the Huskies with a 155-56 record (.735 percentage) and the second-most wins in school history.

“I can’t thank the Michigan Tech administration, staff and community enough for all they have done for me,” said Barnes. “Their support over my career has been outstanding. I wouldn’t change one second of my time here and will be cheering on the Huskies from Madison.

“It was a very difficult decision to leave, but this was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. I’m very excited about the chance to coach at Wisconsin and in the Big Ten.”

Barnes took over the women’s basketball program in 2003 and never had a losing season. His teams won 20-or-more games four times, earned three GLIAC North Division titles and advanced five times to the NCAA Tournament. The Huskies were back-to-back NCAA Midwest Regional Champions in 2009 and 2010. Three players were All-Americans under his watch, and the team ranked in the nation’s top five in team grade point average three straight seasons.

“To say that we’ve been pleased with John’s work at Michigan Tech is an understatement,” said Michigan Tech president Glenn Mroz. “He came into a good program and pushed it to make it great. We thank John for all that he’s done for our students. We’re confident he’ll continue his strong performance in Division I basketball and look forward to following his career at Wisconsin.”

Barnes becomes the second former Tech women’s basketball coach to work in the Big Ten. The Huskies’ winningest coach Kevin Borseth is currently the head coach at Michigan.

“We have a track record of coaches moving on to Division I positions,” said Tech’s director of athletics Suzanne Sanregret. “We thank John for continuing our tradition of excellence in women’s basketball and wish him the best.

“We will begin a search for the next head coach, seeking an individual who will continue our tradition of success both on and off the court.”

Barnes, who was a student-athlete and assistant coach with the men’s program prior to being named women’s head coach, will finish 18 years at Michigan Tech on June 30.

The search for Michigan Tech’s eighth head women’s basketball coach will begin immediately.