Reggie Barlow will enter his eighth season as the Hornets’ head coach, and the 10th season on the ASU staff. After serving two years as quarterbacks coach, Barlow took over the reins in 2007 and since then has become the Hornets’ third all-time winning coach in the history of Bama State football.
After building a foundation during his first three years at the helm, the last four years have seen Barlow lead ASU to four consecutive winning campaigns which hasn’t happened since the 1967-70 seasons. He has led the team to a 30-16 overall record during that time and a 27-9 conference record.
Three of the past four seasons has seen the Alabama State University football program tied for the best record in the SWAC’s Eastern Division, earning a berth in the championship game in 2010.
“We tried to build the program the right way, where we would be able to put consecutive years together where we are competing for the championship,” Barlow said. “I think our coaches and players have done a good job of that. Going into this season, we’re expecting the same. We’re hoping the coaches we have here and the players we have in the program will again put us in position to compete for a championship at the end of the season.”
The program will play its second full season in New ASU Stadium, a sparkling new $62 million stadium which opened Thanksgiving Day 2012.
“For our University’s students and fans, it’s history in the making,” Barlow said of the 26,500-seat venue which will again host six games this season. “It’s rare when you get to be involved in ‘the first time’ for a facility. It’s a blessing we’re in this position to lead the program in our new stadium.”
A record-breaking receiver and kick returner, Barlow was recruited to ASU by the legendary Houston Markham, for whom the ASU football complex is named.
During his senior year, Barlow caught 58 passes for 1,267 yards. The Montgomery native and Sidney Lanier High School standout finished his Hornet career with 133 catches and 2,536 yards, school records surpassed in 2011 by former wideout Nick Andrews.
The NFL took notice and Barlow was selected in the fourth round of the 1996 NFL draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. It was the kickoff to a successful professional career.
To this day, Barlow’s name is still etched on several of the team’s records. In 1998, Barlow led the NFL in punt return yardage, with 43 returns for 555 yards and a touchdown and was named a Pro Bowl alternate.
He still ranks among the Jaguars’ career leaders for most punt returns (79), most punt return yards (967), and average per return (12.2), as well as among the single-season record holders for most punt returns (55 in 1998), most punt return yards (555 in 1998) and average per return (12.9) in 1998.
After five years in Jacksonville, Barlow joined the Oakland Raiders. In 2002, Barlow began his two-year tenure with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he would soon earn a Super Bowl Ring.
Even after Barlow’s retirement, the NFL has not forgotten about the former Pro Bowler. He has agreed to work as a representative of the NFL to be their spokesman in the NFL Play 60 initiative. He goes out and speaks to elementary children in the state of Alabama about the importance of eating healthy and staying active with exercise or play at least 60 minutes each day.
Even at the height of his success, the idea of coaching was never far from Barlow’s mind. Throughout his career, he collected tips, ideas and habits of his coaches, going so far as to record them in a notebook.
He would put that information and experience to good use when he joined the ASU football staff as quarterbacks coach in 2005. In his first season, Barlow served as mentor and tutor to future NFL second-round draftee Tarvaris Jackson – currently a quarterback with the Seattle Seahawks whose team won the 2014 Super Bowl.
In 2006, Barlow worked with a trio of quarterbacks without a single snap of college football experience between them. Under Barlow’s tutelage, Alex Engram would earn a SWAC Newcomer of the Week award and finish eighth in the conference in total offense.
After that season, Barlow was named interim head coach. Just a few weeks later, the interim title was removed and Barlow’s dream was realized.
“I love ASU,” Barlow said. “They have been so good to me and my family. This is my dream job.”
Barlow’s success as a coach has been shown with his record on the field, but the SWAC recognized his performance as a player when he was inducted into the SWAC Hall of Fame in 2013.
Barlow is the father of three children — Ericka, Reggie Jr. and Simone.
