Reggie Barlow named new football coach at Tennessee State

Tennessee State University has appointed Reggie Barlow as its new football coach, the school announced on Sunday. Barlow takes over after Eddie George, who recently became the head coach at Bowling Green. Barlow coached the D.C. Defenders in the UFL for the past two seasons. He led the team to a 13-7 record and was named the XFL's Coach of the Year in 2023, guiding them to a 9-1 season and a championship game appearance. In a statement, Barlow expressed his excitement about joining Tennessee State. He acknowledged the school's rich history and the legacy of its players and coaches. Before coaching at the UFL, Barlow spent 14 years in college football. He coached at Alabama State, his alma mater, for eight years and then at Virginia State for six years. He led Virginia State to an undefeated season in 2017 and received the CIAA Coach of the Year award. Barlow also has NFL experience, playing as a wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tennessee State had a successful season last year, making the FCS playoffs for the first time since 2013 and winning a share of the OVC-Big South title, their first league title since 1999.