University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Barnett Joins Coaching Staff
1/16/2026 10:00:00 AM | Football
PITTSBURGH—Head Coach Pat Narduzzi has officially added Harlon Barnett to his coaching staff. Barnett joins Pitt as the program's safeties and assistant head coach.
"Harlon is someone I trust completely," said Narduzzi. "We worked together for more than a decade, won a lot of football games, and developed a lot of talent. He's a proven teacher, a proven leader, and someone the college football world has great respect for. He'll be a tremendous fit for us here in Pittsburgh, both on and off the field, and I'm looking forward to working with him again."
Barnett comes to Pitt after serving as safeties coach and assistant head coach at Northwestern from 2024–25.
A former Michigan State All-American and seven-year NFL veteran, Barnett brings extensive experience as a defensive coordinator, position coach and head coach. He spent 11 seasons at Michigan State across two stints, including serving as acting head coach in 2023 and co-defensive coordinator during the Spartans' College Football Playoff run in 2015.
Barnett also served as defensive coordinator at Florida State and coached under Nick Saban at LSU on a national championship staff. During his coaching career, he has mentored numerous NFL Draft picks and helped lead defenses that consistently ranked among the nation's best.
Barnett earned his degree from Michigan State and is married to his wife, Tammy. They have two children, Todd and Tori.
