Reggie Barlow

Barlow joined the Alabama State Hornets football staff as quarterbacks coach in 2005. In his first season, Barlow served as mentor and tutor to future NFL second-round draftee Tarvaris Jackson.

In 2006, Barlow worked with a trio of quarterbacks without a single snap of college football experience between them. Under Barlow's tutelage, Alex Engram earned a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Newcomer of the Week award and finished eighth in the conference in total offense.

After that season, Barlow was named interim head coach. A few weeks later, the interim title was removed. Barlow took over as head coach in 2007 and has compiled an overall record of 49–42 in eight season as head coach at Alabama State. In 2010, the Hornets went 7–5, claimed their fourth outright SWAC Eastern Divisional title and made their third trip to the league's championship game in eight seasons. In 2011, the Hornets improved to 8–3 winning the Turkey Day Classic over Tuskegee.[3]

Barlow has coached a few current and former NFL players, including Seattle Seahawks quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, who was a member of the Super Bowl XLVIII Championship team, Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell, and Washington Redskins offensive tackle Terren Jones, as well as former Oakland Raiders receiver Greg Jenkins and former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Nigel Carr.

In 2014, after the completion of the school's football season, the Alabama State University Board of Trustees voted not to renew Barlow's contract. The move was seen as controversial because Barlow had signed a contract-extension and salary increase months prior and had already begun getting paid at the higher rate. Litigation is pending in the contract dispute. The Hornets football team finished 7–5 on the season. This was Barlow's fifth consecutive winning season and his 49 career wins rank him second all-time among coaches in program history.

In December 2015, it was announced that Barlow had agreed in principle to become head football coach at George Washington Carver High School Columbus, Georgia.[4] Just a few months later, however, Barlow was mentioned as a candidate for the head football coaching job at his alma mater, Sidney Lanier High School.[5]

In May 2016, Barlow accepted the Head Coaching position at Virginia State University.[6] During his tenure at Virginia State, Barlow posted a 34-15 overall record and a 25-10 conference record. In 2017, he led the Trojans to their first unbeaten season in school history, going 10-0 and defeating Fayetteville State to win the CIAA championship and a berth in the Division II playoffs. Barlow resigned from Virginia State in March 2022.[7]

Barlow took a position with the XFL in March 2022. Barlow was initially expected to become the Head Coach for the San Antonio Franchise,[7] but in June 2022, it was instead reported that Barlow would coach the DC Defenders.[8]

Barlow finished his first season with the Defenders 9-1, and winning the 2023 XFL Head Coach of the Year Award.[9]