Texas reportedly reaches deal with Rodney Terry as full-time coach

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas has reached anagreement with Rodney Terry to be the Longhorns’ full-time headbasketball coach, taking the interim tag off his title after he ledthe program to the Elite Eight following the midseason firing ofChris Beard, a person with knowledge of the deal told TheAssociated Press.

Texas was knocked out of the NCAA Tournament by Miami on Sunday,ending its longest postseason run since 2008. Terry and Texasofficials reached the agreement Monday, according to a person withknowledge of the deal who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymitybecause the person was not authorized to speak publicly on thematter.

Financial terms of the deal were not immediately available.

Terry took over the Longhorns as acting head coach when Beardwas first suspended on Dec. 12 after a felony domestic violencearrest. Terry was given the title of interim head coach when Beardwas fired Jan. 5.

Texas won the Big 12 Tournament championship and questions aboutTerry’s future with the program were amplified as the Longhornskept winning in the postseason. Texas fans wondered what more heneeded to prove and Longhorns players publicly advocated for him toget the job.

Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte had praised Terry’s jobhandling the team in crisis and gave him a raise, though onlythrough April. He’d also noted Terry inherited a veteran roster andstrong staff of assistants built by Beard.