Rick Barnes joined by grandson on Tennessee basketball bench while facing Texas Longhorns

Rick Barnes is back in Austin tonight, returning for the first time as a Tennessee Vol since he 17-year-tenure as the Longhorns head basketball coach.

Barnes grandson, and Austin resident, Caleb, sits next to him on the Tennessee bench at Erwin Events Center.

Several months ago, KnoxNews reported that Barnes would have his grandson with him. 

“My grandson’s birthday is right around that day and I am going to let him sit with me on the bench,” Barnes said in September at the Emerald Youth Golf Classic.

Caleb is turning 12 years old.

Barnes started coaching the Texas Longhorns in 1998, staying with the team until March 2015 when he was fired.

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Trisha Easto is a digital producer in the USA Today network. You can find her on Twitter @trishaanicole