Harlon Barnett

Last updated

Harlon Barnett
Harlon 1.jpg
Barnett coaching Michigan State in 2011
Current position
TitleDefensive Backs Coach
Team Northwestern
Conference Big Ten
Biographical details
Born (1967-01-02) January 2, 1967 (age 57)
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Playing career
1986–1989 Michigan State
1990–1992 Cleveland Browns
1993–1994 New England Patriots
1995–1996 Minnesota Vikings
Position(s) Safety
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1998–1999 Princeton HS (OH) (DB)
2000–2002Princeton HS (OH) (DC)
2003 LSU (GA)
2004–2006 Cincinnati (DB)
2007–2014 Michigan State (DB)
2015–2017Michigan State (AHC/co-DC/DB)
2018–2019 Florida State (DC/DB)
2020–2023 Michigan State (DB)
2023 Michigan State (interim HC)
2024-present Northwestern (AHC/DB)
Head coaching record
Overall2–8
Accomplishments and honors
Awards

Harlon T. Barnett (born January 2, 1967) is an American football coach and former player. He was the interim head coach at Michigan State University for most of the 2023 season. Barnett previously served as associate head coach/co-defensive coordinator at Michigan State as well as defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach at Florida State University. As a player, Barnett was a four-year letter-winner as a defensive back for Michigan State University, serving as team captain and earning All-America honors during his senior year, and spent seven seasons in the National Football League. [1]

Contents

Early life

Barnett was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was a standout athlete at Princeton High School. Barnett earned a full athletic scholarship to play football at Michigan State University.

Playing career

College

Barnett was a three-year starter for head coach George Perles at Michigan State. His individual success as a Spartan earned him first-team All-America recognition by the Sporting News in 1989. In that season, Barnett compiled 73 stops, three interceptions, and three fumble recoveries. Barnett played on the 1987 Big Ten and 1988 Rose Bowl championship team and played in the 1989 Gator Bowl and the 1989 Aloha Bowl. He finished his career as a Spartan with 154 tackles, six interceptions, and 13 pass break-ups. [2]

NFL

Following his impressive career at Michigan State, Barnett was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round of the 1990 NFL Draft. [3] He played three seasons (1990–92) in Cleveland before spending two seasons (1993–94) with the New England Patriots and two seasons (1995–96) with the Minnesota Vikings.

Broadcasting career

Barnett earned his bachelor's degree in communication from Michigan State in 1990. He went to broadcasting school while playing for the Cleveland Browns. Barnett was recruited in 1997 by then-Michigan State head coach Nick Saban to serve as a sideline reporter for Michigan State football. He served as a sideline reporter for Saban’s final two seasons at Michigan State. [4]

Coaching career

LSU

The next time Barnett interviewed with Saban, it was for a graduate assistant opening on Saban's LSU football staff. In Barnett's sole season as a GA at LSU, the Tigers won the 2004 Sugar Bowl (BCS National Championship Game). [5]

Cincinnati

The following season, Barnett was hired as defensive backs coach at the University of Cincinnati under Mark Dantonio. [4] In his initial season (2004), the Bearcats led Conference USA and ranked No. 26 nationally in pass defense, allowing only 194.2 yards per game. In his final season at Cincinnati (2006), the Bearcats ranked No. 23 nationally in pass efficiency defense, with a 109.3 rating. [2] In thee seasons at Cincinnati, Barnett coached four defensive backs to all-conference honors. [5]

Michigan State

Barnett returned to his alma mater in 2007 as a coach. In Barnett's first 11 seasons in East Lansing, the Spartans were 100–45 with three Big Ten Conference championships (2010, 2013, 2015) and were selected for the College Football Playoff in 2015. He coached the defensive backs his entire 11 years under Dantonio; he was promoted to assistant head coach and co-defensive coordinator prior to Michigan State's victory in the 2015 Cotton Bowl Classic over Baylor, and was again promoted to associate head coach in June 2017. [1]

Florida State

Barnett also spent two seasons as defensive coordinator at Florida State University under Willie Taggart. Barnett's experience at Florida State was integral to his development as injuries forced him to experiment with foreign schemes and coverages. Ultimately, his time was cut short at Florida State after Taggart's head coaching contract was bought out early. [6]

Return to Michigan State

Barnett returned to Michigan State in 2020 to coach the secondary. When head coach Mel Tucker was suspended and then fired in September 2023 over a sexual harassment scandal, Barnett succeeded him as interim head coach. Jonathan Smith was hired as the permanent head coach that November. [7] Barnett was one of two coaches (Courtney Hawkins) retained on the new coaching staff by Smith. [8]

Player development

Barnett is known for his success in developing players at the University of Cincinnati, Michigan State University and Florida State University. In three seasons at Cincinnati, Barnett coached four defensive backs to all-conference honors. [1] For Michigan State University, Barnett has coached 10 Spartan defensive backs who have been selected in the NFL Draft, two of whom were first-round picks (Darqueze Dennard, No. 24, Cincinnati Bengals, 2014; and Trae Waynes, No. 11, Minnesota Vikings, 2015), four All-Americans, three Thorpe Award semifinalists, and one Thorpe Award recipient. [1]

During his time with Florida State University, Barnett coached five players who earned All-ACC recognition, a Bednarick Award semifinalist, and five players selected in the NFL Draft (Brian Burns, No. 16, Carolina Panthers, 2019; Asante Samuel Jr., No. 47, Los Angeles Chargers, 2021; Janarius Robinson, No. 134, Minnesota Vikings, 2021; Joshua Kaindoh, No. 144, Kansas City Chiefs, 2021; Hamsah Nasirildeen, No. 186, New York Jets, 2021). [1]

Personal life

Barnett married his college sweetheart, Tammy Barnett, in 1991 and they have two children, Todd and Tori.

Head coaching record

YearTeamOverallConferenceStandingBowl/playoffs
Michigan State Spartans (Big Ten Conference)(2023)
2023 Michigan State 2–82–76th (East)
Michigan State:2–82–7
Total:2–8

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Todd Grantham</span> American football coach (born 1966)

Jeffrey Todd Grantham is an American football coach who is the defensive line coach for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as defensive coordinator at the University of Florida.

Robert Vann Williams is an American football coach who most recently served as the special teams coordinator and tight ends coach at the University of Oregon, from 2018 to 2021. Williams served as the head football coach at Michigan State University from 1999 to 2002, compiling a record of 16–17.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michigan State Spartans football</span> American college football program

The Michigan State Spartans football program represents Michigan State University (MSU) in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level. The Spartans are members of the Big Ten Conference. Michigan State claims a total of six national championships, including two from major wire-service: AP Poll and/or Coaches' Poll. The Spartans have also won eleven conference championships, with two in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association and nine in the Big Ten.

Courtney Tyrone Hawkins, Jr. is an American football coach and former player who s currently wide receivers coach for the Michigan State Spartans. He was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round of the 1992 NFL draft. A 5'9", 190 lbs wide receiver from Michigan State University, Hawkins played in nine NFL seasons from 1992 to 1996 for the Buccaneers and then the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1997 to 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Dantonio</span> American football player and coach (born 1956)

Mark Justin Dantonio is an American football coach and player. His most recent head coaching position was at Michigan State University, a position he had held from 2007 to 2019, presiding over one of the most successful eras in the program's history. He led the Michigan State Spartans to three Big Ten Conference championships, and eight victories over archrival Michigan in 13 years. In 2013, he coached Michigan State to its first 13-win season and the program's fifth trip to the Rose Bowl, where they defeated Stanford and finished the season ranked No. 3 in the nation. This was the second time a Big Ten team reached the 13-win mark, the previous being Ohio State's national championship season in 2002, where Dantonio was the defensive coordinator. The 2013 season also marked the first time a Big Ten team won nine conference games each by double digits. In 2015, Dantonio became the first head coach in Big Ten history to achieve at least 11 wins in five of six seasons. On December 6, 2015, Dantonio's Spartans qualified for the College Football Playoff for the first time in the program's history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pat Narduzzi</span> American football player and coach (born 1966)

Patrick Regan Narduzzi is an American football coach and former player. He is the head coach at the University of Pittsburgh. He was formerly the defensive coordinator at Michigan State. He attended Youngstown State University and the University of Rhode Island. He earned his master's degree from Miami University.

Mark Snyder is an American football coach. He previously was the defensive line and linebackers coach for the Orlando Guardians of the XFL linebackers coach for the Houston Gamblers of the United States Football League (USFL). Snyder served as the head football coach at Marshall University from 2005 to 2009 after a four-year tenure as defensive coordinator at Ohio State University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 Michigan State Spartans football team</span> American college football season

The 2007 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Mark Dantonio began his first season as the Spartans' head coach. The Spartans play their home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mel Tucker</span> American football player and coach (born 1972)

Melvin Gene Tucker II is an American football coach and former player. He was the head football coach at Michigan State University from 2020 to 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 Michigan State Spartans football team</span> American college football season

The 2006 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Michigan State competed as a member of the Big Ten Conference, and played their home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. The Spartans were led by fourth-year head coach John L. Smith. Smith had compiled a combined 18–18 record in his previous seasons at Michigan State, and he was fired after the 2006 season in which the team finished 4–8. The Spartans did, however, set the record for the greatest comeback from a deficit in college football history.

Gregory M. Jones II is a former Canadian football linebacker who played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for Michigan State University, and was a two-time All-American. The New York Giants selected him in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft, and he was a member of the Giants' Super Bowl championship team against the New England Patriots following the 2011 season. He has also played for the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans, the CFL's Toronto Argonauts and the UFL's Las Vegas Locomotives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Michigan State Spartans football team</span> American college football season

The 2010 Michigan State Spartans football team competed on behalf of Michigan State University in the Big Ten Conference during the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Head coach Mark Dantonio was in his fourth season with the Spartans. Michigan State played their home games in Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2000 Michigan State Spartans football team</span> American college football season

The 2000 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the 2000 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Spartans played their home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. This was the first year for head coach Bobby Williams, who took over the program after previous head coach Nick Saban had left to take the head coaching position at Louisiana State University.

Don Treadwell is an American college football coach and former player. He was most recently the interim head coach at University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, having previously served as the offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach on Doc Gamble's staff. Treadwell served as the head football coach at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio from 2011 to 2013 and as the offensive coordinator at Michigan State University from 2007 to 2010. He also acted as interim head coach after Mark Dantonio suffered a heart attack during the 2010 season. However, Michigan State credits the entire season to Dantonio's record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1998 Michigan State Spartans football team</span> American college football season

The 1998 Michigan State Spartans football team competed on behalf of Michigan State University in the Big Ten Conference during the 1998 NCAA Division I-A football season. Head coach Nick Saban was in his fourth season with the Spartans. Michigan State played their home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. The Spartans went 6–6 overall and 4–4 in conference play. The team did not play a bowl game following the 1998 regular season.

The 1997 Michigan State Spartans football team competed on behalf of Michigan State University as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1997 Big Ten Conference football season. Led by third-year head coach Nick Saban, the Spartans compiled an overall record of 7–5 with a mark of 4–4 in conference play, tying for sixth place in the Big Ten. Michigan State was invited to the Aloha Bowl, where they lost, 51–23, on December 25 to Washington. The team played home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Michigan State Spartans football team</span> American college football season

The 2018 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Spartans played their home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan, and competed in the East Division of the Big Ten Conference. They were led by 12th-year head coach Mark Dantonio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Michigan State Spartans football team</span> American college football season

The 2020 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University during the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Spartans competed as members of the East Division of the Big Ten Conference and played their home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. This was the program's first season under head coach Mel Tucker.

Mike Tressel is an American football coach who is currently the defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach for the Wisconsin Badgers. Tressel, the nephew of former Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel, joined the University of Cincinnati's football coaching staff under Mark Dantonio in 2004. Tressel followed Dantonio to Michigan State when he was hired there in December 2006. He was named the acting head coach when Dantonio announced his retirement in February 2020. Tressel was one of two Dantonio assistants retained by Dantonio's successor, Mel Tucker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Michigan State Spartans football team</span> American college football season

The 2023 Michigan State Spartans football team represented Michigan State University in the East Division of the Big Ten Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Spartans played their home games at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Harlon Barnett - Staff Directory". Michigan State University Athletics. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Harlon Barnett - Football Coach". Michigan State University Athletics. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  3. ↑ "1990 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  4. 1 2 Griffith, Mike (December 28, 2015). "Michigan State notes: Harlon Barnett shares background with Alabama's Nick Saban". mlive. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  5. 1 2 "Harlon Barnett". Florida State Seminoles. January 9, 2018. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  6. ↑ Scott, Nate (November 4, 2019). "Florida State will end up paying 3 buyouts, totaling over $20 million, to fire Willie Taggart". For The Win. USA Today. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  7. ↑ Solari, Chris (November 25, 2023). "Harlon Barnett, Michigan State football coaching staff dismissed after dismal season". Detroit Free Press . Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  8. ↑ Bondi, Robert (December 1, 2023). "Jonathan Smith to reportedly retain Harlon Barnett, Courtney Hawkins on new staff". SpartansWire.usatoday.com. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.