Eddie Barnes became the school's all-time winningest coach thanks to Tallahassee's 86-82 win at Gordon State (Photo courtesy of Phil Kelly)

Posted: Oct 02, 2014

TCC’s Eddie Barnes announces retirement at conclusion of 2014-15 season

Retirement coverage from other media outlets: Tallahassee Democrat l WCTV l WTXL

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (October 2, 2014) – Tallahassee Community College head men's basketball coach Eddie Barnes announced Thursday that the 2014-15 season, his 14th leading the Eagles' program and 40th overall in the coaching fraternity, will be his final one as he will retire from coaching in June.

Prior to his head coaching post at Tallahassee, Barnes spent 26 seasons in Alabama, including ten as head coach at Wallace Community College-Dothan. Through 23 seasons as an NJCAA head coach, he has a record of 451-243.

The Dean of Panhandle Conference coaches, Tallahassee introduced Barnes as its second head coach on May 23, 2001. To date, his Eagle resume includes a record of 256-133, one Panhandle Conference Championship (2006), a pair of NJCAA Region 8/FCSAA state titles (2006, 2011), and two NJCAA District 8 and FCSAA State Coach of the Year awards.

"It has been an honor to have the opportunity to coach at Tallahassee Community College," said Barnes. "It is a special place, and I will always have fond memories as I prepare for the next chapter of life.

"TCC is truly special because of the good people, a friendly atmosphere and a commitment to student success."

Barnes has guided Tallahassee to five postseason berths, including a surprising 2011 run that ended with a spot in the NJCAA quarterfinals. Despite a roster that included only one returner from his 2010 squad, which included future NBA player Bernard James and finished one win shy of a trip to the national tournament, he and the Eagles made a return trip to the postseason and knocked off a trio of conference champions, culminating with a 61-52 win over arch-rival and Panhandle Conference Champion Chipola College to capture the NJCAA Region 8 and FCSAA state championships, as well as the accompanying berth to the NJCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in Hutchinson, Kan.

Five years earlier, the state championship game was the backdrop of another epic victory for Barnes' Eagles. After sharing the Panhandle Conference's regular season championship with Chipola, he and the Eagles celebrated an NJCAA Region 8/FCSAA Championship with a 98-96 triple-overtime win over the Indians. Tallahassee eventually made it to the NJCAA championship game for the first time in school history, where it fell to the University of Arkansas-Ft. Smith and ended the season with a 31-4 record. That season, Barnes was recognized by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) as the Junior College Coach of the Year.

"Tallahassee Community College will have some big shoes to fill," said director of athletics Rob Chaney. "Coach Barnes is highly-respected by his peers, which I feel is one of the ultimate compliments bestowed upon a coach. He has dedicated himself to doing things the right way and helping our young men become winners on the court, in the classroom and in life."

According to Chaney, the school will conduct a national search for a successor and intends to have a coach in place prior to the NJCAA's spring signing period, which begins in April.

"At the appropriate time in the near future, the process (of finding a successor) will begin. Right now, however, the focus is on the upcoming season and watching Coach Barnes' and the team's pursuit of a championship."

A 1971 graduate of Rutherford High School in Panama City, Fla., Barnes went on to receive his associate's degree at Wallace Community College in Dothan, Ala., where he also played basketball from 1971-73. He then completed his bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of Montevallo.

Barnes began his coaching career in 1975 at Jemison (Ala.) High School. His next stop was his first—but not last— on the collegiate level, as he returned to his alma mater, accepting an assistant coaching position with Montevallo. After three seasons on the Falcons' bench, Barnes returned to Alabama's high school ranks, where he had successful stints at both Cottonwood High School and Wicksburg High School.

Prior to the 1991-92 season, Barnes was called upon to take the reigns at Wallace-Dothan. It was during his ten-year stint with the Governors that he built his reputation as one of the NJCAA's finest coaches. While at Wallace-Dothan, Barnes coached the Governors to five Alabama Junior and Community College Conference (AJCCC) Division Championships and seven appearances in the NJCAA Region 22 Tournament, including six straight from 1996-2001. In his final season at Wallace-Dothan, the Governors captured the AJCCC/NJCAA Region 22 Championship and a third-place finish at the NJCAA Division II tournament, finishing with a record of 30-5, and Barnes was named NJCAA District 22 Coach of the Year for the fourth time.

In May 2007, Barnes was recognized by his alma mater when the University of Montevallo named him the recipient of the prestigious Leon G. Davis Award. The award, bestowed annually upon a former University of Montevallo athlete who has distinguished himself through personal achievements and community service, is given in honor of Davis, former director of athletics, basketball coach and golf coach at Montevallo.

Equally impressive as Barnes' win-loss record is the number of players who have moved on to the next level. To date, 60 of Barnes' Tallahassee student-athletes have continued their athletic and academic careers at a four-year college or university. He has coached six All-FCSAA players while 67 have been named to various All-Panhandle Conference teams, including 32 first-team selections.

In June 2012, Barnes experienced another highlight when James was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of the NBA Draft. Later the same evening, he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks and is about to begin his third season in the league.

Barnes and the Eagles opened practice on Wednesday and will host the annual Southeastern Jamboree on Saturday. Tallahassee opens the regular season October 31 against Westchester (N.Y.) Community College as part of the Quality Inn Classic, hosted by Northwest Florida State College in Niceville, Fla.