Texas-El Paso coach Tony Barbee has been hired as Auburn's new basketball coach, people familiar with the search process told The Birmingham News on Wednesday night.
Barbee, 38, has been at UTEP for four seasons. His career includes time with Kentucky coach John Calipari. Barbee was an assistant coach for Calipari at Memphis. He played for Calipari at UMass.
Barbee was interviewed Tuesday and Wednesday by Auburn officials.
Barbee won 14 games in his first season with UTEP. Then he won 19, then 23 and went 26-7 this season. The Miners lost to Butler in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last week.
The hiring ends a coaching search that began March 12 when Auburn fired Jeff Lebo. Other contenders included former Auburn star Chuck Person, North Texas coach Johnny Jones and Sam Houston State coach Bob Marlin.
More to come...