Report: Northwestern to hire Harlon Barnett as defensive backs coach

Northwestern is set to hire Harlon Barnett as defensive backs coach, according to The Inside Zone’s Matt Fortuna. He served in the same role at Michigan State for over three years before serving as interim head coach after the firing of Mel Tucker.

Barnett is coming off his second stint at Michigan State after previously working as the Spartans’ defensive backs coach and eventually co-defensive coordinator from 2007-17. From there, he headed to Florida State to serve as the defensive coordinator under Willie Taggart and returned to East Lansing in 2020.

Barnett totaled a 2-8 record as Michigan State’s interim head coach, but was not retained on staff under new coach Jonathan Smith. He confirmed that decision in an interview with the Lansing State Journal’s Graham Couch and said he planned to keep coaching in some capacity.

“After 20 football seasons at Michigan State, five as a player, 15 as a coach, my time is up,” Barnett said. “It’s time for me to move on. I’m looking for opportunities at other programs, be it college or the NFL. I’m excited about it. It’s time.”

Barnett got his coaching start in 1998 at the high school level, but joined Nick Saban’s staff at LSU in 2003 as a graduate assistant. Then, he headed to Cincinnati as defensive backs coach from 2004-06 before his first go-round at Michigan State.

Harlon Barnett is the latest hire for David Braun at Northwestern

Northwestern put together an impressive 2023 season under interim head coach David Braun, who took over after the firing of Pat Fitzgerald. The Wildcats finished with an 8-5 record as part of a major turnaround from a 1-11 mark in 2022, and Braun received the full-time position before season’s end.

Following a bowl game victory over Utah, Braun started his staff overhaul, notably parting ways with offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian and two others. Northwestern’s offense ranked ninth in the Big Ten in scoring offense during Bajakian’s first season as offensive coordinator in 2020, but the Wildcats ranked 11th in the league the last three years. The Wildcats averaged 303.9 total yards per game this past year.

Braun moved quickly to find a new coordinator, landing Zach Lujan from South Dakota State after his offense ranked third in the FCS with 38.4 points per game.

On defense, Northwestern opted to promote Tim McGarigle to defensive coordinator to fill Braun’s old role after six years as linebackers coach.