Julius Barnes begins his seventh season as head coach for Academy of Art University men's basketball in 2018-19.
The best season in program history came under Barnes in 2017-18 as the Urban Knights delivered a new program wins record, the program's longest winning streak, and two of the biggest wins in program history. As ART U made a push toward the postseason, the team won three straight in early January, knocking off UH Hilo, Dominican, and Holy Names over an eight-day span. Then, in the regular season's final two weeks, Academy of Art defeated Hawaii Pacific, Notre Dame de Namur, and finally Concordia in double overtime on Senior Day to finish 12-14 overall and just one victory shy of qualifying for the PacWest Conference Championship. Kendall Brown, who made the game-winning basket against CUI, ended his collegiate career as a member of the All-PacWest Second Team.
The Knights' 2016-17 campaign was a season that featured a nationally-ranked defense, a hot start to conference-play, and 17 games which were decided by 10-points or less. ART U won three of its first five PacWest contests, defeating BYU-Hawaii, Holy Names, and Dominican in that span thanks in large part to a defense that ended up being ranked first in the conference and 20th in the nation with 16.73 forced turnovers per game, first in the PacWest with the fewest overall turnovers (349), and second in the conference with an average of 8.0 steals per game. The squad had one All-PacWest Team representative in Luka Radovic. The Urban Knights would go 6-20 in 2015-16 and registered wins against each of the conference's three Bay Area opponents.
ART U's 2014-15 campaign under Barnes was the second winningest season in program history (7-19, 5-20 Pacific West Conference) and featured team records in 3-pointers made (148) as well as steals (211). Playing one of the program'sÂ
toughest-ever schedules (six top-25 teams), the Urban Knights had 15 games decided by 10 points or less, making more than half the games on their calendar exciting, competitive barn-burners. Perhaps two of the biggest highlights were a win overÂ
then-No. 22 Seattle Pacific on the Falcons' home floor to start the year along with junior guardÂ
Nick Cary'sÂ
buzzer beater, to give ART UÂ
its first-ever victory over Chaminade in PacWest Conference play.
Through 2012-14, the team totaled 15 wins under Barnes compared to the Knights' 13 victories in their first four years of existence from 2008-12. ART U posted the highest win total in program history in Barnes' first year of 2012-13 with nine triumphs. That year, the team won its first five home games and was one victory shy of capturing the sixth seed to enter the inaugural Pacific West Conference Championship Tournament.
Under Barnes, the Urban Knights also produced All-PacWest Second Team honoree Ameer Shamsud-din PacWest and the PacWest Freshman of the Year in Alex Carmon.Â
In 2013-14, the team produced All-PacWest Third Team honoree Alexis Moore.
Barnes formerly served as an assistant coach for the Urban Knights during the 2011-12 season.
After working as a coach at the Stanford Men’s Basketball and Curtis Borchardt Camps during his summers from 2001-2005, Barnes became the Assistant Coach for both the Girls Varsity and Junior Varsity teams at Mira Costa High School in 2010. Barnes stressed the importance of fundamentals and teamwork with the two squads which both managed Top 3 finishes in the Bay League.
Barnes has continuously worked throughout his career to help youth further develop their skills and could be found doing so most recently as an instructor at the Pangos/Full Court Press Basketball Camps. There since 2010, Barnes has helped guide aspiring young basketball players to learn what it takes to be successful student-athletes.
As a player, Barnes garnered numerous honors at Rowland High School including First Team All-State and All-CIF Southern Section honors, and ultimately drew the attention of Stanford University. After quietly producing as a guard in the Cardinal red during his freshman and sophomore seasons at Stanford, Barnes was named Most Improved Player by his teammates and soon became a regular starter as a junior.
Barnes thrived in the role and averaged 10.9 points per game, third on the team behind future NBA professionals Casey Jacobsen and Curtis Borchardt. In his senior season, Barnes broke out to the tune of 16.0 points and 3.9 assists per game which led the team. He would be named to the All-Pacific 10 Conference Team as well as Stanford University Conference Male Athlete of the Year in 2003.
Following his graduation from Stanford University, Barnes cultivated his knowledge of the game while playing professionally overseas. Barnes enjoyed a successful career abroad and in 2007, he was honored as the Sportsman of the Year in Montenegro.
Barnes was raised in Rowland Heights, Calif., and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Stanford University in 2003.
Head Coach, ART U
2012 - present
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| Year |
Overall (Pct.) |
PacWest (Place) |
| 2017-18 |
12-14 (.462) |
11-9 (7th) |
| 2016-17 |
7-19 (.269) |
6-14 (11th) |
| 2015-16 |
6-20 (.231) |
4-16 (12th) |
| 2014-15 |
7-19 (.269) |
5-15 (10th) |
| 2013-14 |
6-21 (.222) |
4-16 (t-11th) |
| 2012-13 |
9-16 (.360) |
7-11 (10th) |
| Totals |
47-109 (.301) |
37-81 (.314) |
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