Rick Byrd

Byrd grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee where he would sit alongside his father, Ben Byrd, and watch him write articles on the Tennessee men's basketball games as a kid. He then went to play basketball at a Florida junior college for a year, but decided to come back home to Knoxville and attend the University of Tennessee, where he was asked to join the junior varsity team for the Volunteers his senior year. The next year, in order to start his coaching career, he became the student assistant to the varsity squad. The very next year Byrd also attempted to become a graduate assistant for the Vols.

Byrd then went to nearby Division III school Maryville as an assistant coach. After Maryville, Byrd moved to Tennessee Tech as an assistant for a few seasons, before becoming head coach at Division II Lincoln Memorial where he stayed for three seasons and finished with a 69–28 overall record.{{Cite news|url=http://sportsandentertainmentnashville.com/the-rise-of-rick-byrd-and-belmont-basketball/|title=The Rise of Rick Byrd and Belmont Basketball|date=November 28, 2013|newspaper=Sports and Entertainment Nashville|access-date=February 17, 2017|language=en-US}}

In 1986, Byrd was hired by Belmont as head coach.

At the time of his retirement, Byrd was one of five active NCAA coaches to have 500 wins at one school. Byrd was also one of 11 active coaches to have more than 600 career wins. Byrd won his 700th game as a head coach on January 17, 2015, when Belmont defeated Austin Peay 89–83.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/boxscore?gameId=400596385|title=Belmont vs. Austin Peay - Box Score - January 17, 2015 - ESPN}} Byrd is first among all active NCAA Division I men’s basketball head coaches (min. 10 years at school) when ranked by percentage of schools’ all-time wins; having accounted for over 59 percent of the total victories in Belmont history.{{Cite web|url=http://www.belmontbruins.com/sports/m-baskbl/coaches/BYRD_RICK|title=Belmont Bruins|website=www.belmontbruins.com|language=en|access-date=February 17, 2017|archive-date=December 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224094646/http://www.belmontbruins.com/sports/m-baskbl/coaches/BYRD_RICK|url-status=dead}} Only three Division I men's head coaches in the nation had been at their respective institutions longer than Byrd's 30 years of service at Belmont.

He led Belmont to eight NCAA Tournaments in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2019. Under Byrd's guidance, the Bruins have won 239 games and posted a remarkable 179–43 (.806) record in conference games over the past 10 years. Byrd, from 2011–2014, led the Bruins to be one of only six NCAA Division I men's basketball programs to win 26 or more games per season, joining the select company of Duke, Florida, Syracuse, VCU, and Wichita State.

On April 1, 2019, Byrd announced his retirement from Belmont after 33 years at the helm of the program.

Byrd has coached many players that have gone on to have very accomplished careers after their Belmont careers, including J.J. Mann, the Ohio Valley Conference's Player of the Year, a first-team Academic All-American and the winningest player in Belmont history.{{cite web |url=http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-basketball/story/2014-03-05/jj-mann-belmont-ovc-player-of-year-bruins-win-over-north-carolina-rick-byrd-alexander |title=Belmont's J.J. Mann has brilliant resume and a chance to fill gaping hole {{!}} NCAA Basketball {{!}} Sporting News |website=www.sportingnews.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150727070023/http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-basketball/story/2014-03-05/jj-mann-belmont-ovc-player-of-year-bruins-win-over-north-carolina-rick-byrd-alexander |archive-date=2015-07-27}} He now plays for the German professional team Phoenix Hagen.{{Cite web|url=http://basketball.eurobasket.com/player/JJ_Mann/Austria/Redwell_Gunners_Oberwart/204374|title=J.J. Mann Player Profile, Bayer Giants Leverkusen, News, Stats - Eurobasket}}

Byrd also coached Ian Clark, NBA shooting guard. Clark was Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention, Naismith and Lou Henson National Player of the Year candidate, Lefty Driesell Defensive All-America, Mid-Major All-America, OVC co-Player of the Year, First Team All-OVC, OVC Defensive Player of the Year, OVC All-Tournament Team, Tennessee Sports Writers Association (TSWA) Men's Basketball Player of the Year all, among many other awards, all under the direction of Byrd.{{Cite web|url=http://belmontbruins.com/sports/m-baskbl/2012-13/bios/clark_ian_0yai|title=Ian Clark - Belmont Bruins|access-date=September 29, 2015|archive-date=March 30, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330231926/http://belmontbruins.com/sports/m-baskbl/2012-13/bios/clark_ian_0yai|url-status=dead}}

Byrd also coached Kerron Johnson who helped take the Belmont program to new heights, leading the Bruins to 102 victories, four regular season conference championships, three conference tournament championships and three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. Moreover, Johnson helped Belmont earn national Top 25 poll votes three straight seasons and the program's best NCAA Tournament seed - No. 11 - in 2013.{{Cite web|url=http://www.belmontbruins.com/sports/m-baskbl/2013-14/releases/20130811xe9zvw|title = Former Bruin Kerron Johnson Signs Pro Deal - Belmont Bruins}} This seed would later be matched by the 2018-19 squad.

{{CBB Yearly Record Start

|type=coach

|conference=

|postseason=

|poll=no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead

|name=Maryville Scots

|startyear=1978

|conference= Old Dominion Athletic Conference (NCAA DIII)

|endyear=1980

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1978–79

| name = Maryville

| overall = 8–16

| conference =

| confstanding =

| postseason =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1979–80

| name = Maryville

| overall = 15–11

| conference =

| confstanding =

| postseason =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Maryville

| overall = 23–27 ({{winpct|23|27}})

| confrecord =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead

|name=Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters{{Cite web |url=http://lmurailsplitters.com/page.asp?articleID=274 |title=Media Guides | the Official Website of Lincoln Memorial University Athletics |access-date=March 26, 2013 |archive-date=May 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509174143/http://www.lmurailsplitters.com/page.asp?articleID=274 |url-status=dead }}

|startyear=1983

|conference=Volunteer State Athletic Conference

|endyear=1986

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1983–84

| name = Lincoln Memorial

| overall = 22–10

| conference = 11–1

| postseason = NAIA District 24 Playoffs

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1984–85

| name = Lincoln Memorial

| overall = 26–9

| conference = 10–2

| confstanding =

| postseason = NAIA District 24 Playoffs

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = confboth

| season = 1985–86

| name = Lincoln Memorial

| overall = 21–9

| conference = 11–1

| confstanding = 1st

| postseason = NAIA District 24 Playoffs

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Lincoln Memorial

| overall = 69–28 ({{winpct|69|28}})

| confrecord = 32–4 ({{winpct|32|4}})

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead

|name=Belmont Rebels[http://campus.belmont.edu/mp3/bruins/BasketballMediaGuide/src/pdf/bel.mbb.1011.mg_record_book.pdf Belmont Basketball Media Guide]

|startyear=1986

|conference=Tennessee Collegiate Athletic Conference

|endyear=1995

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1986–87

| name = Belmont

| overall = 15–15

| conference = 7–9

| confstanding =

| postseason =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1987–88

| name = Belmont

| overall = 22–9

| conference = 15–1

| confstanding =

| postseason = NAIA District 24 Playoff

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference tournament

| season = 1988–89

| name = Belmont

| overall = 25–10

| conference = 12–4

| confstanding =

| postseason = NAIA first round

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1989–90

| name = Belmont

| overall = 27–7

| conference = 14–2

| confstanding =

| postseason = NAIA District 24 Playoffs

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1990–91

| name = Belmont

| overall = 23–9

| conference = 11–5

| confstanding =

| postseason = NAIA District 24 Playoffs

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1991–92

| name = Belmont

| overall = 22–10

| conference = 12–4

| confstanding =

| postseason = NAIA District 24 Playoffs

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference tournament

| season = 1992–93

| name = Belmont

| overall = 30–6

| conference = 12–4

| confstanding =

| postseason = NAIA Sweet Sixteen

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = confboth

| season = 1993–94

| name = Belmont

| overall = 30–7

| conference = 14–2

| confstanding = 1st

| postseason = NAIA Quarterfinals

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = confboth

| season = 1994–95

| name = Belmont

| overall = 37–2

| conference = 18–0

| confstanding = 1st

| postseason = NAIA semifinals

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead

|name=Belmont Bruins

|startyear=1995

|conference=Tennessee Collegiate Athletic Conference

|endyear=1996

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference tournament

| season = 1995–96

| name = Belmont

| overall = 29–11

| conference = 13–5

| confstanding =

| postseason = NAIA semifinals

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead

|name=Belmont Bruins

|startyear=1996

|conference=NCAA Independent

|endyear=2001

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1996–97

| name = Belmont

| overall = 15–11

| conference =

| confstanding =

| postseason =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1997–98

| name = Belmont

| overall = 9–18

| conference =

| confstanding =

| postseason =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1998–99

| name = Belmont

| overall = 14–13

| conference =

| confstanding =

| postseason =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1999–2000

| name = Belmont

| overall = 7–21

| conference =

| confstanding =

| postseason =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2000–01

| name = Belmont

| overall = 13–15

| conference =

| confstanding =

| postseason =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead

|name=Belmont Bruins[http://www.atlanticsun.org/media/2011-12/pdf/records-mbasketball.pdf Atlantic Sun Conference]

|startyear=2001

|conference=Atlantic Sun Conference

|endyear=2012

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2001–02

| name = Belmont

| overall = 11–17

| conference = 8–12

| confstanding = T–7th

| postseason =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = division

| season = 2002–03

| name = Belmont

| overall = 17–12

| conference = 12–4

| confstanding = 1st (North)

| postseason =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2003–04

| name = Belmont

| overall = 21–9

| conference = 15–5

| confstanding = 3rd

| postseason = NIT Opening Round

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2004–05

| name = Belmont

| overall = 14–16

| conference = 12–8

| confstanding = 3rd

| postseason =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = confboth

| season = 2005–06

| name = Belmont

| overall = 20–11

| conference = 15–5

| confstanding = T–1st

| postseason = NCAA round of 64

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference tournament

| name = Belmont

| season = 2006–07

| overall = 23–10

| conference = 14–4

| confstanding = 2nd

| postseason = NCAA round of 64

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = confboth

| season = 2007–08

| name = Belmont

| overall = 25–9

| conference = 14–2

| confstanding = 1st

| postseason = NCAA round of 64

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| name = Belmont

| season = 2008–09

| overall = 20–13

| conference = 14–6

| confstanding = T–2nd

| postseason = CIT Quarterfinals

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| name = Belmont

| season = 2009–10

| overall = 19–12

| conference = 14–6

| confstanding = T–1st

| postseason =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = confboth

| name = Belmont

| season = 2010–11

| overall = 30–5

| conference = 19–1

| confstanding = 1st

| postseason = NCAA round of 64

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = confboth

| name = Belmont

| season = 2011–12

| overall = 27–8

| conference = 16–2

| confstanding = 1st

| postseason = NCAA round of 64

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead

|name=Belmont Bruins[http://www.ovcsports.com Ohio Valley Conference]

|startyear=2012

|conference=Ohio Valley Conference

|endyear=2019

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = confboth

| name = Belmont

| season = 2012–13

| overall = 26–7

| conference = 14–2

| confstanding = 1st (East)

| postseason = NCAA round of 64

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = division

| name = Belmont

| season = 2013–14

| overall = 26–10

| conference = 14–2

| confstanding = 1st (East)

| postseason = NIT Quarterfinals

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = divboth

| name = Belmont

| season = 2014–15

| overall = 22–11

| conference = 11–5

| confstanding = T–1st (East)

| postseason = NCAA round of 64

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = division

| name = Belmont

| season = 2015–16

| overall = 20–12

| conference = 12–4

| confstanding = 1st (East)

| postseason = NIT first round

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = division

| name = Belmont

| season = 2016–17

| overall = 23–7

| conference = 15–1

| confstanding = 1st (East)

| postseason = NIT second round

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| name = Belmont

| season = 2017–18

| overall = 24–9

| conference = 15–3

| confstanding = 2nd

| postseason =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| name = Belmont

| season = 2018–19

| overall = 27–6

| conference = 16–2

| confstanding = T–1st

| postseason = NCAA round of 64

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Belmont

| overall = 713–347 ({{winpct|713|347}})

| confrecord = 373–108 ({{winpct|373|108}})

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record End

| overall = 805–402 ({{winpct|805|402}})

| poll =

| polltype =

}}

• List of college men's basketball coaches with 600 wins

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Byrd, Rick}}

Category:1953 births

Category:Living people

Category:Basketball coaches from Tennessee

Category:Belmont Bruins men's basketball coaches

Category:College men's basketball head coaches in the United States

Category:Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters men's basketball coaches

Category:Maryville Scots men's basketball coaches

Category:Sportspeople from Knoxville, Tennessee

Category:Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles men's basketball coaches

Category:University of Tennessee alumni