UTEP's Barbee to coach Auburn

UTEP's Tony Barbee has accepted Auburn's head coaching job, the school confirmed on Wednesday.

Barbee, 38, will be formally introduced as Auburn's 20th head coach at 6 p.m. ET Thursday in the $92 million Auburn Arena, the first event held in the Tigers' new home.

"We are thrilled to welcome Tony Barbee into the Auburn Family," director of athletics Jay Jacobs said in a school statement. "Coach Barbee has a vision of competing for championships at Auburn, and the passion to get us there. He is a phenomenal coach, an outstanding recruiter and a fierce competitor."

Barbee was one of at least four candidates interviewed for the position in Atlanta in the last two days. Barbee will replace the fired Jeff Lebo, who was let go after six seasons after failing to reach the NCAA tournament.

"I'm very excited about the opportunity to join the Auburn Family and proud to be the next head coach at Auburn," Barbee said in the statement. "We have challenges in front of us, but we also have great opportunities with everything Auburn has to offer -- a great university, outstanding community, tremendous fan support, and a terrific new arena and practice facility. The time is now to take Auburn basketball to new heights."