Published Jan 15, 2014
Pack set to hire George Barlow
Ryan Tice
TheWolfpacker.com Staff Writer
NC State is set to fill the open assistant coaching vacancy on its football staff by hiring George Barlow, the former interim head coach at New Mexico and most recently the defensive backs coach and defensive recruiting coordinator at Vanderbilt, according to a source.
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Barlow will replace departed cornerbacks coach Richard McNutt, as first reported by The Wolfpacker Tuesday night on the premium The Wolves' Den message board.
Barlow, a native of Chicago and former safety at Marshall, spent the past two years under James Franklin at Vanderbilt and was a part of the Commodores' staff that topped the Wolfpack in the Music City Bowl, 38-24, on Dec. 31, 2012.
Barlow's secondary was one of the squad's strengths in 2013, as the team finished 9-4 and in fourth place of the SEC East with a victory in the BBVA Compass Bowl. The Dores tied for 13th nationally this past year with 18 interceptions and they were also ranked 23rd in team passing efficiency defense (116.12) and passing yards allowed (206.9 yards per game).
In the coach's first year, the defensive backs helped the defense rank third in the SEC and 14th in the NCAA for pass defense. Barlow has also mentored Vandy senior cornerback Andre Hal to a pair of All-SEC second-team honors despite being a first-time starter in 2012.
Prior to his arrival in Nashville, Barlow coached for three seasons at New Mexico, including an eight-game elevation to interim head coach from his assistant head coach and defensive coordinator post. The Lobos went 1-7 as they closed the 2011 campaign with him in the lead role.
Prior to the 2011 season, Barlow spent two campaigns as the assistant head coach and defensive backs mentor at New Mexico.
Other stops for Barlow include James Madison, where he spent a decade and experienced tremendous success, including a 2004 NCAA I-AA national championship and FCS postseason appearances in 2006, 2007 and 2008. The mentor spent his first three years as the running backs coach before two campaigns in charge of the defensive line. Barlow served his final five seasons at JMU as the assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and safeties coach.
Barlow spent three years at Oklahoma before his 10-year stint with James Madison; he served as a graduate assistant in his first two seasons and then mentored the outside linebackers and safeties. In 1995, he served as the defensive coordinator at West Virginia State after one year at Hutchinson (Kansas) Community College, where he was in charge of the defensive line.
Barlow's coaching career began as a graduate assistant at his alma mater in 1991 after an all-conference playing career with the Thundering Herd, which included an appearance in the 1987 I-AA national title game. He then coached linebackers for two years before he moved on to Hutchinson.
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