Tennessee State University named Reggie Barlow the 23rd head football coach in program history on March 23, 2025. A proven leader with extensive coaching experience and a championship pedigree, Barlow brought a history of success at the professional and collegiate levels to Nashville.
Barlow enters his second season at Tennessee State in 2026 as he continues building the Tigers through a combination of returning talent, experienced transfers and a restructured coaching staff.
In his first season at TSU, Barlow guided the Tigers to a 2-10 overall record. He earned his first victory in his TSU debut, leading the Tigers to a 24-21 win over North Carolina A&T in the John A. Merritt Classic. The victory marked Tennessee State’s third consecutive win in the annual Classic. The Tigers also produced a 24-7 homecoming victory over Howard.
Barlow’s first TSU team produced three OVC-Big South postseason honorees. Linebacker James Stewart earned first-team honors after recording 68 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, three forced fumbles and four pass breakups. Offensive lineman Veguer Jean-Jumeau and running back and all-purpose standout Kendric Rhymes received honorable mention recognition. Jean-Jumeau started all 12 games as a redshirt freshman, while Rhymes led the Tigers with 497 rushing yards and delivered a season-high 174 yards and two touchdowns in the John A. Merritt Classic.
Before arriving at Tennessee State, Barlow led the UFL’s D.C. Defenders. In 2023, he guided the Defenders to a league-best 9-1 regular-season record and an appearance in the championship game, earning XFL Coach of the Year honors.
Under Barlow’s direction, the Defenders produced seven All-XFL selections, including Offensive Player of the Year Jordan Ta’amu, the most of any team in the league. D.C. led the league with 1,490 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns while ranking second with 29 sacks and first with four interceptions returned for touchdowns.
Before his success with the Defenders, Barlow spent six seasons as the head coach at Virginia State University. He led the Trojans to the first undefeated season in program history and a Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship in 2017, earning CIAA Coach of the Year honors.
Barlow began his collegiate coaching career at his alma mater, Alabama State University, serving two seasons as quarterbacks coach before spending eight seasons as head coach. He led the Hornets to a 49-42 record and three SWAC East Division titles while developing standout quarterbacks such as Super Bowl XLVII champion Tarvaris Jackson. Barlow’s teams also excelled academically, producing an 80-percent graduation rate.
As a player, Barlow starred as a wide receiver and return specialist at Alabama State before the Jacksonville Jaguars selected him in the fourth round of the 1996 NFL Draft. He played for the Jaguars, Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers during his NFL career. Barlow led the league in punt-return yards in 1998 and earned recognition as a Pro Bowl alternate. He won Super Bowl XXXVII with the Buccaneers following the 2002 season.
