A 15-plus year veteran of the Big Ten Conference, Harlon Barnett enters his second season as Northwestern's Assistant Head Coach/Safeties Coach in 2025. The former All-American at Michigan State and seven-year pro in the NFL has extensive experience serving as a defensive coordinator and coaching defensive backs, while also spending time as a head coach.
Barnett spent 15 of the last 17 seasons in the Big Ten Conference, working in multiple roles at Michigan State. In his most recent stint (2020-23) he held the titles of cornerbacks coach, secondary coach and acting head coach for the Spartans. In 2023, he guided Michigan State to a pair of Big Ten Conference wins after being named the acting head coach mid-season. Barnett coached in his fourth New Year's Six/BCS bowl game at Michigan State in 2021, claiming a Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl victory over No. 12 Pitt, as the Spartans finished 11-2 and earned a No. 9 postseason ranking from the Associated Press.
The Cincinnati, Ohio native spent two seasons (2018-19) as defensive coordinator at Florida State after his first stint at Michigan State (2007-17) which he held the titles of secondary coach, assistant head coach, associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator. Barnett coached 11 NFL Draft selections, four All-Americans, three Thorpe Award semifinalists and 31 All-Big Ten selections. While at FSU, Barnett coached five NFL Draft selections.
In Barnett's first 11 seasons in East Lansing (2007-17), the Spartans were 100-45 with three Big Ten Championships (2010, 2013, 2015) and earned a College Football Playoff berth in 2015. 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 appointed the program's associate head coach in June 2017.
Barnett mentored one of the top secondaries in the nation throughout his first coaching stint in East Lansing, as the Spartans ranked among the FBS Top 25 in pass efficiency defense in five of his last seven seasons (No. 18 in 2011, No. 3 in 2012, No. 1 in 2013, No. 21 in 2014, No. 17 in 2017). The Spartans also finished ranked in the NCAA FBS Top 10 in pass defense in 2012 (ninth) and 2013 (third). In addition, MSU ranked second in the Big Ten and tied for 10th in the nation with 18 interceptions in 2014, and was second in the Big Ten and tied for 23rd in the FBS in 2015 with 15 picks. From 2011-14, the Spartans were the only program to finish in the NCAA FBS Top 10 in both total defense and rushing defense. During his three seasons (2015-17) coordinating the Spartan defense, Michigan State ranked in the FBS Top 25 in both scoring defense and rushing defense in 2015 and 2017.
He also spent three seasons (2004-06) as secondary coach at Cincinnati. In 2006, the Bearcats finished the regular season ranked third in the Big East and No. 23 nationally in pass efficiency defense (109.3 rating). Barnett worked under Nick Saban at LSU in 2003 as a graduate assistant where he was part of the Tigers' National Championship staff. He began his coaching career at Princeton High School in Cincinnati, working with the secondary (1998-99) before earning defensive coordinator (2000-02) responsibilities.
As a player, Barnett was a four-year letterwinner at Michigan State and a three-year starter. He was a member of the 1987 Big Ten and 1988 Rose Bowl championship team which finished 9-2-1. He was named a first team All-American in 1989 and was selected in the fourth round of the 1990 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. He spent seven seasons in the NFL for the Browns (1990-92), New England Patriots (1993-94) and Minnesota Vikings (1995-96). Barnett played in 99 total NFL games, totaling career numbers of 301 tackles, four interceptions and three fumble recoveries.
Barnett earned his bachelor's degree in communication from Michigan State. He and his wife Tammy have two children: Todd and Tori.
"Harlon Barnett is a wealth of knowledge and someone that knows Big Ten football inside and out. He has had his fingerprints on some of college football's most successful defensive units over his coaching career, and proven to consistently develop young men at a high level. I cannot wait to see the impact he has on our entire program, and am thrilled to have him on our staff."
– Dan & Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun
"I am extremely excited to be here at Northwestern and looking forward to helping Coach Braun and the entire NU football community achieve our championship aspirations!"
– Assistant Head Coach & Safeties Coach Harlon Barnett
Barnett spent 15 of the last 17 seasons in the Big Ten Conference, working in multiple roles at Michigan State. In his most recent stint (2020-23) he held the titles of cornerbacks coach, secondary coach and acting head coach for the Spartans. In 2023, he guided Michigan State to a pair of Big Ten Conference wins after being named the acting head coach mid-season. Barnett coached in his fourth New Year's Six/BCS bowl game at Michigan State in 2021, claiming a Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl victory over No. 12 Pitt, as the Spartans finished 11-2 and earned a No. 9 postseason ranking from the Associated Press.
The Cincinnati, Ohio native spent two seasons (2018-19) as defensive coordinator at Florida State after his first stint at Michigan State (2007-17) which he held the titles of secondary coach, assistant head coach, associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator. Barnett coached 11 NFL Draft selections, four All-Americans, three Thorpe Award semifinalists and 31 All-Big Ten selections. While at FSU, Barnett coached five NFL Draft selections.
In Barnett's first 11 seasons in East Lansing (2007-17), the Spartans were 100-45 with three Big Ten Championships (2010, 2013, 2015) and earned a College Football Playoff berth in 2015. 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 appointed the program's associate head coach in June 2017.
Barnett mentored one of the top secondaries in the nation throughout his first coaching stint in East Lansing, as the Spartans ranked among the FBS Top 25 in pass efficiency defense in five of his last seven seasons (No. 18 in 2011, No. 3 in 2012, No. 1 in 2013, No. 21 in 2014, No. 17 in 2017). The Spartans also finished ranked in the NCAA FBS Top 10 in pass defense in 2012 (ninth) and 2013 (third). In addition, MSU ranked second in the Big Ten and tied for 10th in the nation with 18 interceptions in 2014, and was second in the Big Ten and tied for 23rd in the FBS in 2015 with 15 picks. From 2011-14, the Spartans were the only program to finish in the NCAA FBS Top 10 in both total defense and rushing defense. During his three seasons (2015-17) coordinating the Spartan defense, Michigan State ranked in the FBS Top 25 in both scoring defense and rushing defense in 2015 and 2017.
He also spent three seasons (2004-06) as secondary coach at Cincinnati. In 2006, the Bearcats finished the regular season ranked third in the Big East and No. 23 nationally in pass efficiency defense (109.3 rating). Barnett worked under Nick Saban at LSU in 2003 as a graduate assistant where he was part of the Tigers' National Championship staff. He began his coaching career at Princeton High School in Cincinnati, working with the secondary (1998-99) before earning defensive coordinator (2000-02) responsibilities.
As a player, Barnett was a four-year letterwinner at Michigan State and a three-year starter. He was a member of the 1987 Big Ten and 1988 Rose Bowl championship team which finished 9-2-1. He was named a first team All-American in 1989 and was selected in the fourth round of the 1990 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. He spent seven seasons in the NFL for the Browns (1990-92), New England Patriots (1993-94) and Minnesota Vikings (1995-96). Barnett played in 99 total NFL games, totaling career numbers of 301 tackles, four interceptions and three fumble recoveries.
Barnett earned his bachelor's degree in communication from Michigan State. He and his wife Tammy have two children: Todd and Tori.
Quotables
"Harlon Barnett is a wealth of knowledge and someone that knows Big Ten football inside and out. He has had his fingerprints on some of college football's most successful defensive units over his coaching career, and proven to consistently develop young men at a high level. I cannot wait to see the impact he has on our entire program, and am thrilled to have him on our staff."– Dan & Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun
"I am extremely excited to be here at Northwestern and looking forward to helping Coach Braun and the entire NU football community achieve our championship aspirations!"
– Assistant Head Coach & Safeties Coach Harlon Barnett