KNOXVILLE – Rick Barnes believed there was no reason to complicate matters.
When the Tennessee men’s basketball coach knew he’d have an opening on his staff, there was only one phone call he needed to make. Taking the job offer was an even easier choice for Michael Schwartz.
The former Miami, Fresno State and Tulsa assistant coach reunited a third time with Barnes when the Volunteers tabbed him earlier this month to replace Chris Ogden, who left for a position with Chris Beard at Texas Tech.
“There was no hesitation the minute I found out that there was even a chance,” Schwartz said. “I’ve always thought about this, and every year I’ve thought and hoped at some point I’d have a chance to be with Coach Barnes. I owe everything to him in my career, the chance to play and be in a Division I program and be coached at that level.
“As soon as it happened, I was really excited and just wanted to go for it.”