Harlon Barnett facts for kids

Harlon T. Barnett (born January 2, 1967) is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the defensive backs coach at Northwestern University. He was also the temporary head coach at Michigan State University for part of the 2023 season.

Barnett has also been an associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator at Michigan State. He was also a defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Florida State University. As a player, Barnett was a great defensive back for Michigan State. He was a team captain and earned All-America honors. He played seven seasons in the National Football League.

Early Life and High School

Harlon Barnett was born and grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was a top athlete at Princeton High School. His skills earned him a full scholarship to play football at Michigan State University.

Playing Football in College

Barnett was a starting player for three years at Michigan State. He played under head coach George Perles. In 1989, he was named a first-team All-American by the Sporting News. That year, he made 73 tackles, caught three interceptions, and recovered three fumbles.

He was part of the 1987 Big Ten Conference championship team. They also played in the 1988 Rose Bowl. He finished his college career with 154 tackles, six interceptions, and 13 pass break-ups.

Playing in the NFL

After his college career, the Cleveland Browns drafted Barnett in 1990. He played three seasons with the Browns (1990–1992). Then, he played two seasons with the New England Patriots (1993–1994). He finished his NFL career with two seasons for the Minnesota Vikings (1995–1996).

Coaching Career

Coaching at LSU

Barnett started his college coaching career as a graduate assistant at LSU. He worked under coach Nick Saban. In his only season at LSU, the team won the 2004 Sugar Bowl. This game was also the BCS National Championship Game.

Coaching at Cincinnati

After LSU, Barnett became the defensive backs coach at the University of Cincinnati. He worked for coach Mark Dantonio. In 2004, his first year, Cincinnati was a top team in pass defense. They allowed only 194.2 yards per game. In 2006, his last year there, Cincinnati was ranked 23rd in pass efficiency defense. During his three seasons, he helped four defensive backs earn all-conference awards.

Coaching at Michigan State

Barnett returned to his old college, Michigan State, in 2007. He coached there for 11 seasons under coach Dantonio. During this time, the Spartans won three Big Ten Conference championships (2010, 2013, 2015). They also made it to the College Football Playoff in 2015.

He coached the defensive backs for all 11 years. He was promoted to assistant head coach and co-defensive coordinator in 2015. In 2017, he became the associate head coach.

Coaching at Florida State

Barnett then spent two seasons as the defensive coordinator at Florida State University. He worked under coach Willie Taggart. His time at Florida State helped him learn new strategies. He had to try different ways to coach because of player injuries. His time there ended when Coach Taggart's contract was finished early.

Return to Michigan State

Barnett came back to Michigan State in 2020 to coach the secondary. In September 2023, the head coach, Mel Tucker, was suspended and then left the team. Barnett then became the interim head coach. Jonathan Smith was hired as the new head coach in November 2023. Barnett was one of two coaches who stayed on the new coaching staff.

Helping Players Grow

Barnett is known for helping young players improve a lot. He has done this at the University of Cincinnati, Michigan State University, and Florida State University.

At Cincinnati, he coached four defensive backs who earned all-conference honors. At Michigan State, he coached 10 defensive backs who were drafted into the NFL Draft. Two of these players were first-round picks: Darqueze Dennard in 2014 and Trae Waynes in 2015. He also coached four All-Americans.

At Florida State, Barnett coached five players who earned All-ACC recognition. Five players he coached were also selected in the NFL Draft. These included Brian Burns in 2019 and Asante Samuel Jr. in 2021.

Personal Life

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

Head Coaching Record