Matt Barnes (born May 27, 1986) is an American college football coach. He is the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach for Mississippi State University, positions he has held since 2024. He previously served as the special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach at Ohio State and defensive coordinator for Memphis.
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Co-defensive coordinator & safeties coach |
| Team | Mississippi State |
| Conference | SEC |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | May 27, 1986 |
| Alma mater | Salisbury University (2008) |
| Playing career | |
| Position(s) | Linebacker |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 2009 | Delaware Valley (RB) |
| 2010 | West Virginia Wesleyan (RB) |
| 2011 | West Virginia Wesleyan (OC/QB) |
| 2012–2014 | Florida (GA) |
| 2015 | Michigan (DA) |
| 2016–2018 | Maryland (STC/LB) |
| 2019 | Ohio State (STC/Asst. DB) |
| 2020 | Ohio State (STC/S) |
| 2021 | Ohio State (DB/DC) |
| 2022–2023 | Memphis (DC) |
| 2024–present | Mississippi State (Co-DC/S) |
Playing career
editBarnes played linebacker for Salisbury University.[1]
Barnes played Tailback and Safety for the Urbana Hawks during their then State record 50 game win streak. Becoming, along with Billy Gaines and Eric Lenz, one of the only Sophomores to make the start for Dave Carruthers at Urbana.[2]
Coaching career
editBarnes began his coaching career in 2009 as the running backs coach for Delaware Valley University. In 2010, he coached running backs West Virginia Wesleyan College. In 2011, Barnes served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for West Virginia Wesleyan.[1]
Barnes got his first coaching opportunity at the Division I level as a graduate assistant at the University of Florida. He held this role from 2012-2014.[1]
In 2015, he joined the staff at the University of Michigan as a defensive analyst.[1]
From 2016-2018, he served as linebackers coach and special teams coordinator for the University of Maryland.[3][4][5]
Ohio State
editIn 2019, Barnes accepted a job on Ryan Day's staff at Ohio State as assistant secondary coach and special teams coordinator. Prior to the 2020 season, Barnes was given the title of safeties coach and special teams coordinator.[1] Barnes was then named the secondary coach on February 3, 2021.[6]
Following defensive struggles for the Buckeyes in the beginning of the 2021 season, defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs was stripped of defensive play calling duties, which were given to Barnes.[7][8]
Memphis
editOn January 1, 2022, it was reported that Barnes would become the defensive coordinator at Memphis.[9]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Matt Barnes". Ohio State Buckeyes. June 18, 2018. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
- ^ "Urbana wins 50th straight, state title". The Baltimore Sun. December 2001. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
- ^ "2016 Football Roster". University of Maryland Athletics. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
- ^ "2017 Football Roster". University of Maryland Athletics. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
- ^ "Football Coaches". University of Maryland Athletics. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
- ^ "Ohio State Promotes Matt Barnes to Secondary Coach, Parker Fleming to Special Teams Coordinator". Eleven Warriors. February 3, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "Buckeyes' Day: DC Coombs didn't call plays Sat". ESPN.com. September 19, 2021. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
- ^ Baird, Nathan; clevel; .com (September 19, 2021). "Ohio State football demoted defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs, giving play calling duties to Matt Barnes". cleveland. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
- ^ Brice, John (January 1, 2022). "Sources: Ohio State's Barnes top target for Memphis defensive coordinator job". footballscoop.com. Football Scoop. Retrieved January 1, 2022.