On February 16,2017, with the Bruins win over Eastern Kentucky, Byrd marked his 750th career win, 658 with Belmont.
11 Facts About Rick Byrd
1.
2.
Rick Byrd grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee where he would sit alongside his father, Ben Rick Byrd, and watch him write articles on the Tennessee men's basketball games as a kid.
3.
Rick Byrd then went to play basketball at a Florida junior college for a year, but decided to come back home to Knoxville and attend the University of Tennessee, where he was asked to join the junior varsity team for the Volunteers his senior year.
4.
The very next year Rick Byrd attempted to become a graduate assistant for the Vols.
5.
Rick Byrd then went to nearby Division III school Maryville as an assistant coach.
6.
At the time of his retirement, Rick Byrd was one of five active NCAA coaches to have 500 wins at one school.
7.
Rick Byrd was one of 11 active coaches to have more than 600 career wins.
8.
Rick Byrd led Belmont to eight NCAA Tournaments in 2006,2007,2008,2011,2012,2013,2015 and 2019.
9.
Rick Byrd has coached many players that have gone on to have very accomplished careers after their Belmont careers, including JJ Mann, the Ohio Valley Conference's Player of the Year, a first-team Academic All-American and the winningest player in Belmont history.
10.
Rick Byrd now plays for the German professional team Phoenix Hagen.
11.
Rick Byrd coached Kerron Johnson who helped take the Belmont program to new heights, leading the Bruins to 102 victories, four regular season conference championships, three conference tournament championships and three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.