Rick Barnes stepping down

Multiple sources have told 247Sports that Rick Barnes is not expected to return for an 18th season as the Texas Longhorns head coach.

Texas Men's Athletic Director Steve Patterson has demanded wholesale changes with the assistant coaching staff from Barnes, and Barnes is not expected to acquiesce to these demands.

In fact, one source said, "Bet the house and double down" that Barnes will not return.

Texas has made the NCAA tournament 16 out of the 17 years Barnes has been at the helm, and he is the Longhorns' all-time wins leader with a record of 402-180. But the Longhorns had started to slip under Barnes the last seven years.

Barnes arrived at Texas in 1998, and over the next 10 seasons Texas appeared in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament five times and won three conference crowns. That stretch included a trip to the Final Four in 2003 and two additional appearances in the Elite Eight.

But over the last seven seasons of his tenure, Barnes has failed to guide Texas back to the Sweet 16. It's a stain on his résumé that has only continued to blot. Texas had expectations to end to halt that streak this season, but went 9-11 in Big 12 play and had to scrape its way into the NCAA tournament. Once there, the Longhorns fell in their opening game to Butler.

Barnes received a two-year contract extension from Patterson last August that included a buyout clause. If Barnes is terminated before April 1, 2015, Texas would owe him a $1.75 million buyout. If he was forced out after that date, the sum would reduce to $1.5 million.

The incoming Texas recruiting class is currently ranked No. 26 in the 247Sports Composite Team Recruiting Rankings.