<p>MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — Central Michigan announced Friday it has hired Kentucky assistant Tony Barbee is its new men’s basketball coach.</p>
<p>Barbee replaces Keno Davis, who was fired after nine years at the helm.</p>
<p>“I’m humbled and excited to be the next head coach at Central Michigan University,” Barbee said. “It’s been a dream of mine to be in the first chair leading another basketball program."</p>
<p>Barbee spent the last seven seasons on John Calipari’s staff at Kentucky. Barbee has also been a head coach at Auburn and UTEP, which he led to an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2010.</p>
<p>“Coach Barbee met all the criteria we had to find the right individual to re-energize our men’s basketball program and get us back to competing for championships,” CMU athletic director Amy Folan said. “He is a proven championship-caliber head coach, an elite recruiter who is well versed in the national landscape and has a strong background in providing a great student-athlete experience on and off the court."</p>
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