Texas has fired Rick Barnes after 17 seasons with the school.

Barnes revealed that he had been told by athletic director Steve Patterson that he would be back for another season after Texas lost to Butler in the round of 64 of the NCAA tournament.

"The wins and losses are fleeting, but it's the relationships that matter," Barnes said at a 40-minute farewell news conference. "We know as a coach, this whole thing is about players. We've been blessed as a staff here to have so many players who have affected our lives."

Two coaches interested in the Texas opening and who will be in the mix to replace Barnes are Wichita State's Gregg Marshall and VCU's Shaka Smart, according to sources.

One source told ESPN that Patterson could go for an outside-the-box hire with NBA ties. Patterson has NBA connections as a former executive with the Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers.