Rick Barnes shares the one story that says everything about Josh Heupel

The one story that tells you everything you need to know about Josh Heupel, according to Rick Barnes, happened in the middle of Alabama week back in October. Tennessee’s basketball coach told shared his insight into Tennessee’s football coach on Wednesday while speaking to the Big Orange Tipoff Club. 

“I’m going to tell you the best story I can tell you about Josh Heupel,” Barnes said. “We were getting ready to play Alabama (in football). On Wednesday, he called me and asked to bring his son to the gym and shoot for 30 minutes. He said I need to spend some time with my son.”

Heupel, Tennessee’s second-year head coach who just finished an 11-win season with a 31-14 win over Clemson in the Capital One Orange Bowl in Miami, is surrounded each week by his children — daughter Hannah and son Jace — during The Vol Walk, as the football team enters Neyland Stadium before a game.

Josh Heupel carved some time out of his schedule during Alabama week to play hoops with his son: pic.twitter.com/7hCf0RnZ8v

— Zack Rickens (@ZackRickensTV) January 4, 2023

Once on the field, Heupel always makes time to get in some throws with his son in the end zone. Apparently the same applies during the week if the two need to get some shots up at Thompson-Boling Arena or Pratt Pavilion.

“Think about it,” Barnes continued. “Getting ready to play the University of Alabama and most football coaches think they gotta work. And he works.”

Everything Tennessee did against Alabama that Saturday worked. Chase McGrath kicked a walk-off 40-yard field goal as time expired, after Hendon Hooker had thrown for 385 yards and five touchdowns, including 207 yards and all five touchdowns, a program single-game record, to Jalin Hyatt.

Fans rushed the field, tore down the goalposts, carried them out of the stadium and threw parts in the Tennessee River. 

But before all the chaos could happen, Heupel needed some down time with his son.

“The fact that Josh is that grounded,” Barnes said, “I think it speaks volumes about his confidence, his security in who he is. And the fact that he is created, within his staff that, they’re all in.”

Josh Heupel in Year 2 led Vols to first 11-win season since 2001

Tennessee’s win over Alabama was the program’s first since 2007. The Vols in September snapped a five-game losing streak to Florida, after going to Pitt and winning in overtime, the first of what would be six wins over ranked teams. 

The Orange Bowl win over Clemson gave Tennessee its first 11-win season since 2001. The Vols won 20 games in the regular season for the first time since 2003.

“(The Orange Bowl) was just so exciting not only for Vol Nation,” Barnes said earlier this week, “but so happy for Josh and his staff and just the entire university. Because the kind of year we had, we had just an unbelievable year. To see it all come together with a great bowl win like that, the way we did it, was really special.”