barnes played college basketball at the university of mississippi of the ncaa division i's southeastern conference from 1985 to 1988. he earned all-sec and all-america honorable mention honors in 1988. barnes earned his business administration degree in 1989 and left ole miss to become an assistant coach at livingston university in 1990. in 1993, barnes returned to ole miss to serve as an assistant coach to rob evans. barnes helped coach ole miss to consecutive 20-win seasons and ncaa men's division i basketball championship berths in 1997 and 1998.