George Barlow joined the Bulls’ coaching staff as cornerbacks coach in February of 2021.
A former safety at Marshall (1986-90), Barlow brought 30 years of collegiate coaching experience to USF after most recently serving as the assistant head coach for defense and cornerbacks coach at NC State.
“George brings a tremendous amount of experience to our staff and will be a great fit in the culture we are building within our program,” Scott said. “His previous coaching tenures in the ACC, SEC and Big 12, among several other leagues, give him a great platform from which to guide our cornerbacks and help them reach their highest potential.”
Barlow spent seven seasons on the NC State staff, serving the first two seasons (2014-15) as cornerbacks coach and then adding assistant head coach for defense duties in his final five seasons (2016-2020). He was part of Wolfpack teams that made six bowl appearances, including the 2018 & 2020 Gator Bowl.
All three cornerbacks that started a game in 2018 for the Wolfpack recorded at least one interception. Barlow coached cornerbacks Juston Burris, a 2016 fourth-round draft pick of the NY Jets, and Jack Tocho, a seventh-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings.
Barlow previously spent two seasons as defensive backs coach under James Franklin at Vanderbilt (2012-13). In his two seasons with the Commodores, Barlow mentored the team’s defensive backs into one of the SEC’s most productive units, finishing in the Top-25 in both passing defense and passing efficiency defense during his tenure. In 2013, the ‘Dores ranked 13th nationally in interceptions (18) and finished second in the SEC and sixth nationally in pass efficiency defense. In 2012, he was a finalist for defensive backs coach of the year by FootballScoop.com as Vanderbilt ranked third in the SEC and 14
th nationally in pass defense. Commodores’ cornerback Andre Hal twice earned all-conference honors.
Barlow was on the staff at New Mexico for three seasons, serving as assistant head coach and defensive backs coach from 2009-10 and then as assistant head coach/defensive coordinator in 2011. Barlow was named interim head coach at New Mexico following the firing of Mike Locksley and led the Lobos for the final eight games of the season.
Barlow began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Marshall in 1991 and was later elevated to linebackers coach (1992-93). He has also served coaching stints at Hutchinson Community College (1994), West Virginia State (1995), Oklahoma (1996-98) and James Madison (1999-2008). He was served as defensive coordinator at West Virginia state and became outside linebackers and safeties coach at Oklahoma in 1998. He served several roles at JMU, working with running backs, defensive line and the secondary, and became defensive coordinator from 2004-08, helping lead the Dukes to the 2004 Division I-AA National Championship and three other playoff appearances (2006, 2007, 2008). In JMU’s championship season of 2004, the Dukes set an FCS record for sacks and ranked second in the nation in rush defense.
A native of Chicago, Barlow earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Marshall University in 1990. He played four seasons for the Thundering Herd football team and was a member of the 1987 team that played in the NCAA I-AA championship game. Barlow's three interceptions vs. East Tennessee State in 1989 still are tied for the program record for most in a game.
Barlow and his wife, Alexis, who serves as USF Associate Athletic Director for Marketing, have two daughters, Kierstin Paige and Harper.
