Tennessee State University has its replacement for Eddie George.
The school on Sunday named former United Football League head coach Reggie Barlow as its new head coach.
Barlow stepped down Sunday from the UFL’s DC Defenders after guiding that team to a 13-7 record over two seasons. His best year there was 2023, when Barlow steered the Defenders to a 9-1 mark and championship game appearance, earning Coach of the Year honors.
Former Titans star guided Tigers to 24-22 record over four seasons
Barlow takes over from George, who led TSU to a 24-22 record over four years, including a 9-4 mark last year when the Tigers earned a share of the Big South-OVC title and made their first trip to the postseason since 2013.
George was named head coach at Bowling Green University earlier this month.
"Unbelievable!" Barlow says in a release. "The chance to be at Tennessee State University, with its rich history, tradition, and legacy of amazing players and coaches — it’s truly an honor to follow in their footstep. I'm humbled, blessed, and beyond excited. A huge thank you to Director of Athletics Dr. Mikki Allen, President [Dwayne] Tucker, and the student-athletes who have remained committed through uncertainty. And to Big Blue, I'm ready to get started. So, let me ask you ... do you like football?"
The 52-year-old Barlow, a Montgomery, Ala., native, spent seven seasons in the NFL after Jacksonville picked him in the fourth round of the 1996 draft. He totaled 39 catches for 522 yards and a touchdown, but excelled in the return game — producing 158 punt returns for 1,639 yards (10.4-yard average) and two touchdowns, as well as 80 kick returns for 1,855 yards (23.2-yard average) and one touchdown.
Barlow helped Tampa Bay win Super Bowl XXXVII in 2002.
A press conference announcing the hiring of TSU football coach Reggie Barlow, March 24, 2025
An Alabama State University graduate, Barlow began his collegiate coaching career at his alma mater, serving two years as quarterbacks coach before leading the Hornets to a 49-42 in eight years as head coach.
Barlow went on to become head coach at Virginia State University from 2016-21, leading the Trojans to a 34-15 record. In 2017, Virginia State went 10-1 and won the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Championship, earning Barlow CIAA coach of the year honors.
"Reggie Barlow's appointment as the head football coach of TSU is a testament to his dedication to the game of football and his deep-rooted passion for developing young athletes,” Allen says in the release. “With a rich legacy as a player and coach, Barlow is poised to lead the TSU football program to new heights, building a culture of excellence and success that will benefit both the players and the university for years to come.”
This article was first published by our sister publication, the Nashville Post.
