Jim Haslam, left, welcomes UT Basketball Coach Rick Barnes to the podium. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
I know it’s football all the time right now as the countdown draws close to kickoff of the gridiron season. But for one day last week, thoughts turned to basketball as the business community hosted a reception to welcome Rick Barnes, the new head coach for University of Tennessee men’s basketball.
More than 250 business and community leaders joined UT brass at the Knoxville Convention Center for a reception hosted by Pilot Flying J, First Tennessee Bank, University of Tennessee Medical Center and the News Sentinel. Moxley Carmichael was honored to be responsible for coordinating the event.
Jim Haslam, founder and chairman of Pilot Flying J, introduced Barnes, who was accompanied by his wife, Candy, by touting Barnes’ record of more than 600 wins as a Division I head coach.
These oh-so-appropriate thumbprint cookies went fast!
During his remarks, Barnes pledged that the University of Tennessee will soon be known as a “basketball school,” as well as a “football school.”
“The University of Tennessee always has to be a part of the conversation during tournament time,” Barnes said. “We want to be the best. We’ve got to want it all.” Barnes said his players will be ambassadors for the university — on and off the court.
The Convention Center staff and the folks from M&M Productions USA (both Moxley Carmichael clients) went all out to make sure the event was over the top. And it was, as you will see from these photos. Thanks to them, the sponsors, the UT Athletics Department and the Moxley Carmichael staff members who were involved for a huge success.
Go Vols! (All of them!)
Coach Rick Barnes, center, with the hosts, from left: Jim Haslam of Pilot Flying J; Patrick Birmingham of the News Sentinel; Pam Fansler of First Tennessee Bank; David Hall of the University of Tennessee Medical Center, UT Athletics Director Dave Hart and UT-Knoxville Chancellor Jimmy Cheek. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
This huge LED-light basket hung from a 12-foot-wide basketball hoop, creating a stunning atmosphere in the ballroom. M&M Productions USA came up with and executed the idea. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
Knoxville Chamber President and CEO Mike Edwards, left, with Congressman Jimmy Duncan. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
From left, Ilene Cheek, Pam Hart, Knoxville Utilities Board CEO Mintha Roach and Convention Center General Manager Mary Bogert. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch, left, with Dr. David Rankin. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
From left, Knox County Commission Chairman Brad Anders, Commissioner David Wright and Knoxville City Council member Brenda Palmer. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
City Councilman Finbarr Saunders, left, with John Gill of the Knox County District Attorney General’s office. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
Natalie Haslam and Dave Hart. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
In the lobby, from left, City Councilman Marshall Stair, former Knoxville Mayor and Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe and Congressman Jimmy Duncan. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
Knox County’s Director of Information Technology Dick Moran and his wife, Carolyn, at left, with Farragut Mayor Ralph McGill and his wife, Marianne. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
Associate Head Coach Rob Lanier, left, with his wife, Dayo, and City Councilman and former Knoxville Mayor Dan Brown and his wife, Cathy. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
From left, Knox County Commissioner Bob Thomas, Jim Haslam, Coach Rick Barnes and Commissioner Ed Brantley. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
Nothing beats a Power T cookie! (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
Except a checkerboard Power T cookie! (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
It’s amazing how many orange and white flowers there are in nature! Samuel Franklin was our florist and did an amazing job, as usual.
The Convention Center came up with a beautiful signature cocktail called a Slam Dunk Martini. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
Former Knox County Commissioner R. Larry Smith brought just a fraction of his UT basketball memorabilia. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
From left, R. Larry Smith, Tom von Berg and Mike Keating.
Congressman Jimmy Duncan chats with Mike Keating of UT Medical Center. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
Knoxville Area Urban League CEO Phyllis Nichols with Mike Brown, CEO of M&M Productions USA. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
Knoxville Police Chief David Rausch with Margie Nichols of UT. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
Marilyn and Patrick Roddy. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
Rhonda Rice and Laurens Tullock. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
The receiving line was always full, but it moved quickly. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
Coach Barnes making remarks in front of a huge photo of himself. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
The crowd loved what it was hearing. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
Jim Haslam and Coach Barnes chatting after the remarks. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
Municipal Judge John Rosson snags an autograph from Coach Barnes. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
Jim Haslam socializing after the remarks. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
Mike Strange, left, of the News Sentinel interviewing Assistant Coach Chris Ogden. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
From left, Kyle Condon, Garrett Medenwald, Mary-Carter Kniffen, Ben Landers, UT President Joe DiPietro, Dr. Jack Lacey and Congressman Duncan. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
Bob Griffitts of Congressman Duncan’s office, left, with Nick Cazana. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
From left, Kim Beets of the Knoxville Convention Center and Margo Pressley, Dana Hart, Ashley Meeks and Josh Sullivan, all of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
Jack Hammontree, left, with Coach Rick Barnes. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
Lisa Duncan, who retires as executive director of the Dogwood Arts Festival at the end of this month, left, with her successor, Tom Cervone, and Amanda Jennings of Moxley Carmichael. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
Of Messer Construction Co., from left, Randy Fields, Kyle Scoble and Adam Chmiel. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
Sue Atchley, left, and Natalie Haslam. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
From left, Ethan Griffin, Stanley Griffin Jr., Brett Lashlee, Bart Lashlee, Garrett Medenwald and Desmond Oliver. Medenwald is the strength and conditioning coach for the Vols basketball team. Oliver is an assistant coach. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
From left, Sam, Jay and Kevin Patel. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
From left, Janet Testerman Creswell, Janet Testerman Crossley and Joey Creswell. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
From left, Angelia and Hugh Nystrom, Angie Wilson and Shanna Browning. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
Sam Winterbotham, UT tennis coach, left, talks with Jim Clayton of Scripps Networks Interactive. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
Jim Haslam, left, chats with Coach Rick Barnes, center, and Athletics Director Dave Hart. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
Phyllis Nichols, left, with Donna Cooper and Jim Atchley, both of First Tennessee Bank. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
The hard-working folks from M&M Productions USA, from left, Justin Wright, Allyson Witt and Barry Dunford. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
Mary Bogert and Nick Cazana. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
Realtor Judi Starliper, right, with Susan Dydak, left, and Lynn Beck. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
John Craig, left, with City Councilman Marshall Stair. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
Margie Nichols with hubby John Gill. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
Jimmy Delaney of UT, left, with Jed and Marsha Dance. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
Jack Hammontree chats with the First Tennessee table. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
WATE General Manager Dean Littleton with his wife, Amber. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
City Councilman Dan Brown and his wife, Cathy. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
From left, Coach Rick Barnes, Sid Blalock, Pam Hart, Candy Barnes, Dave Hart and Jo Blalock. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
From left, Sandy Martin, Lynne Fain, Dr. Walter Fain and David Martin. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
Sam and Tara Winterbotham, center, with Jim and Phyllis Nichols. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
From left, Knox County Commissioner Dave Wright, Jim Haslam and Dave Hart. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
From First Tennessee, from left, Lew and Janice Weems, Donna Cooper and Pam Fansler. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
Under the basket, from left, Larry Cox, Sue Atchley and Jack Hammontree. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
Coach Barnes posing with the M&M Productions USA folks. From left, Justin Wright, Mike Brown, Allyson Witt, Barnes and Barry Dunford. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
Part of the Moxley Carmichael team that staffed this event. From left, Amanda Jennings, Natalie Bailey, Lauren Miller, Cortney Roark, Chrissy Hughes, Erin Rainey and Shaun Fulco Hyver. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
Shaun Fulco Hyver and Charley Sexton of Moxley Carmichael. (Photo by Gary Heatherly)
Other MoxCar folks who worked the event but were not pictured: Scott Bird, Alan Carmichael, Erica Beck and Maria Cornelius. Thanks, everybody.
Click here for a blog post about this event written by Mary Bogert, general manager of the Knoxville Convention Center.
That net was incredible. As were the cookies. (I ate at least 10.)
Welcome, new neighbor!
Maria: You are right about that net! It really was a show stopper. And everyone raved about the cookies.
Sheena: So Coach Barnes is living in your (my old) neighborhood? That’s great. He and his wife seem very nice.
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