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Michigan State

Harlon Barnett: 'I wanted to be the head coach at Michigan State, but not in this way'

IMG_0985by:Griffin McVeigh•09/12/23•

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Harlon Barnett, during Tuesday's press conference at Michigan State - his first as the Spartans' interim head football coach. (Photo by Paul Konyndyk for SpartanMag.com).

Harlon Barnett steps into the Michigan State head coach role in unusual circumstances. Mel Tucker is currently suspended without pay, having sexual harassment allegations against his name. The program must play on without Tucker, with Barnett looking to continue the great start the the 2023 season.

The goal for Barnett was always to be the head coach at Michigan State — he just wishes it was under different circumstances. He calls himself a “Spartan through and through” and is happy to be there for the program in a time of need.

“I’m being totally honest here,” Barnett said during his introductory press conference. “I wanted to be the head coach at Michigan State but not in this way, obviously. So, that’s always been a goal of mine. I’m a Spartan through and through. Anybody that knows me knows that I am a Spartan. They will tell you that. ‘That dude is Green all day.’ So, I really appreciate the opportunity to be the head coach here. Again, not like in the circumstances.”

In a different world, Barnett would have been the one to take over for Mark Dantonio when he stepped down in 2019. Barnett left Michigan State to become the Florida State defensive coordinator before the 2018 season, spending two years in Tallahassee. While the plan did not work out as expected, those in East Lansing had the idea of Barnett taking over.

“I believe that when he went to Florida State to be the defensive coordinator, the hope from Mark Dantonio and him was that it would go well down there,” Graham Couch of the Lansing State Journal said during Monday’s episode of Andy Staples On3. And then when Mark Dantonio retired, (Barnett) would be a natural heir apparent.”

Nonetheless, Barnett is now the head coach, just with the interim tag. He is excited to get rolling and show Michigan State officials what he has to offer. A massive opportunity is ahead of somebody looking to become the long-term solution of the program.

“I am very, very, very excited for this coming week and this opportunity to show what I got,” Barnett said.

Michigan State has a 2-0 record, getting wins over Central Michigan and Richmond. A top-10-ranked Washington team will be heading to Spartan Stadium, giving Barnett a real opportunity to impress in his head coaching debut. If they can pull off a win after a tumultuous week, it will speak to how well Barnett handled the locker room.