Rick Byrd

Rick Byrd (born April 30, 1953)

Teams coached: Maryville Scots, Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters, Belmont Bruins
Maryville record^: 23-27 (.460)
Lincoln Memorial record^: 69-28 (.711)
Belmont record^: 713-348 (.672)
Overall record^: 805-403 (.666)

Career Accomplishments:

  • NCAA National Championships:  0
  • NCAA Tournament Appearances:  8  (2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2019)
  • NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen:  0
  • NIT Championships:  0
  • NIT Appearances:  4  (2004, 2014, 2016, 2017)
  • CIT Appearances:  1  (2009)
  • Ohio Valley Regular Season Champion:  5  (2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019)
  • Atlantic Sun Regular Season Champion:  6  (2003, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012)
  • TCAC (NAIA) Regular Season Champion:  2  (1994, 1995)
  • VASC (NAIA) Regular Season Champion:  1  (1986)
  • Ohio Valley Tournament Champion:  2  (2013, 2015)
  • Atlantic Sun Tournament Champion:  5  (2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012)
  • TCAC (NAIA) Tournament Champion:  5  (1989, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996)
  • VASC (NAIA)Tournament Champion:  1  (1986)
  • NAIA Tournament Appearances:  5  (1989, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996)
  • NAIA Tournament Final Four:  2  (1995, 1996)

Awards:

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

1986-2019 Belmont
1983-1986 Lincoln Memorial
1980-1983 Tennessee Tech (asst)
1978-1980 Maryville
1976-1978 Maryville (asst)
1975-1976 Tennessee (student asst)

Rick Byrd Facts

  • Richard F. Byrd
  • Born April 30, 1953
  • Hometown: Knoxville, Tennessee
  • Alma Mater: University of Tennessee (BS, 1976 & MPE, 1977)
  • Graduated from Doyle High School in Knoxville and eventually landed back at UT, spending his senior year as a student assistant for Vols head coach Ray Mears
  • Got started in coaching at Division III Maryville College (TN), first as an assistant and then as head coach for two seasons
  • Spent three seasons as an assistant at Div I Tennessee Tech under head coach Tom Deaton before getting another head coaching gig – this time it was NAIA Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, TN
  • Became the head coach at Belmont at 1986; at the time the program was part of the NAIA and a member of the Tennessee Collegiate Athletic Conference (TCAC)
    • Belmont became an NCAA Div I Independent in 1996 and officially joined the Atlantic Sun before the 2001-02 season
    • Byrd led the Bruins to the NIT in 2004, then to three straight NCAA Tournaments from 2006-08
    • After joining the top division, Byrd led Belmont to the NCAAT eight times, won eleven regular season conference championships (five OVC and six Sun Belt) and seven conference tournaments (two OVC and five Sun Belt)
    • Announced his retirement on April 1, 2019 after 33 seasons at Belmont
      • In retirement, Byrd retains the title of Head Coach Emeritus for the Bruins
      • Was replaced later that month by his former player and assistant, Casey Alexander
  • Byrd has spent his entire coaching career in the state of Tennessee; also served as Belmont’s athletic director from 1986-1991
  • Has two daughters and one stepson; married to Cheryl

Rick Byrd Coaching Tree

 

^ overall record includes head coaching positions at the NCAA Division I, Division III and NAIA levels (note that Belmont played in the NAIA until 1996)