Harlon Barnett explains how Nick Saban is such a big part of his coaching foundation

Michigan State defensive backs coach Harlon Barnett now assumes the role as the Spartan’s interim head coach following the suspension of Mel Tucker without pay after sexual harassment allegations.

Barnett’s collegiate playing career started as a defensive back for the Spartans in 1986, but his coaching career actually started under current Alabama head coach and legend Nick Saban. And in Barnett’s first press conference as interim head coach, he was asked if he heard from or received a congratulations from Saban.

“I have not heard, but I’m not surprised though,” Barnett said. “That’s Nick man, that’s Nick. But Nick is great, and I tell people this all the time, my foundation of coaching defensive backs is Nick Saban all day.”

Barnett spent six seasons in the NFL following his collegiate playing career, spending time with the Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, and the Minnesota Vikings as a safety.

He attended Michigan State’s broadcasting school during his rookie season with the Browns, which led to him being recruited by Saban to be the Spartans’ sideline reporter. Barnett served as Michigan State’s sideline reporter for Saban’s final two seasons with the team before transitioning to coaching, getting his first opportunity through Saban yet again as a graduate assistant on his staff at LSU in 2003.

Barnett’s one season with the Tigers under Saban was followed by him joining Mark Dantonio’s staff at Cincinnati for two seasons then following Dantonio to Michigan State in his 2007 debut season with the Spartans, and the rest is history.

“Hence Mark Dantonio hiring me, Mel Tucker hiring me, we all speak Saban-eese. So that’s what it is, that’s how I got hired,” Barnett explained.

Barnett served as Michigan State’s defensive backs coach for eight seasons before having assistant head coach and co-defensive coordinator added to his title in 2015.

He spent two seasons as Florida State‘s defensive coordinator before returning to Michigan State under Tucker, but he still doesn’t forget where he came from and where his coaching origin story started alongside Saban.

“But he hasn’t, but I know he’s happy for me and would support me in any way if I called him. You just gotta know Nick, I know Nick,” Barnett said. “Since 1985, he was 30-something years old, think about that.”

Barnett has always wanted to be the head coach of his alma mater, but not under these troubling circumstances. But he has a tremendous opportunity to extend the Spartans’ record to 3-0 versus a top-10 opponent as Michigan State hosts Washington this Saturday at 5:00 p.m.