New Michigan State Assistant Head Coach and Co Defensive Coordinator Harlon Barnett Talks About His New Promotion

New Michigan State Assistant Head Coach ad Co Defensive Coordinator Harlon Barnett Talks About His New Promotion HARLON BARNETT: Well, Coach Dantonio, with

New Michigan State Assistant Head Coach ad Co Defensive Coordinator Harlon Barnett Talks About His New Promotion

HARLON BARNETT: Well, Coach Dantonio, with opportunities for Coach Narduzzi over the last several years, has alluded this to me and as well as to Mike about what could possibly happen if Pat left. So it wasn't a total shocker. It's something that he good coaches do, visionaries.

And so when it actually finally happened, first of all, extremely happy for Pat with this opportunity. I'll really miss him. You work with somebody for 11 years. We're brothers. We're for life. We're connected for life. That's the first thing.

Second, we look forward to the opportunity of being able to continue what we have built here. Mike and I are looking forward to the opportunity, and we hope we can keep it going.

Q. Being assistant head coach, being a former Spartan, what does it mean to you to be in this position?

HARLON BARNETT: That's awesome, man. Something I never thought of or dreamed of. But, again, something that was kind of mentioned to me prior to Pat leaving in the past as a possibility.

And it came to fruition. So I'm extremely excited about it. As you said, I am a Spartan. I bleed green truly, and I love it here. So an awesome opportunity. I'm extremely excited about it.

Q. What does it mean as assistant head coach, what extra stuff do you do?

HARLON BARNETT: Better talk to the other coach about that.

Some of the things that we still have to talk about and duties and all that. A lot of this happened over the course of this week and over the week. So when we all get back and get a chance to settle and sit down and talk about everything and duties and all that, I'm sure Coach will explain.

Q. You and Mike talked about how you'll make this work. I mean, obviously worked on the offensive side and created a model a little bit. But how will you make this as co coordinators work best?

HARLON BARNETT: Haven't had a chance. Again, this happened this week, in the last couple days or so. So we'll talk about them, sure. I'm thinking to some extent, we'll keep some of the duties that we've done already in the past because it helped us get to where we are and then some other things about that.

What type of coaching that will be, I'm not sure. So we'll get it all ironed out probably here within the next few weeks or so.

Q. Do you have to modify how you coach? I mean, I know you've always been the cooler, laid back coach. Pat has kind of been the fire.

Do you bring out some fire in yourself? Because some of your DBs say you might do that team wide now?

HARLON BARNETT: Absolutely, you can't play this game without emotion and passion. I always tell them your other guy has to come out. Here is another guy.

Y'all know what I'm talking about. My other guy cannot come out anymore. My days are done playing, but that other guy can take you to many places you don't want to go. But I do express that to my guys on game day.

The other guy must come out. But then off the field, you know, it's okay to be cool and relaxed and all that kind of stuff.

So I know people see me one way when I'm talking on the camera. But when it's time to play the game, it's time to play the game. Time to get serious and get it done. So we're all like-minded in that aspect, including Pat.

I know Pat, going, going, going, jittery, and fired up. So I'm so am I and so is Mike, so is Coach Dantonio, all stress it in different ways.

Q. You guys just hide it better in front of the camera than Narduzzi?

HARLON BARNETT: Exactly. His green man is out all the time. Our green man comes out on game day.

Q. Did you talk to Pat at all about going to Pittsburgh?

HARLON BARNETT: I talked to Pat about that. He threw something out there obviously. And, again, very honored and very humbled by him.

You know, it is what it is. At some point in time, we might have to separate. So I feel like this is the best thing for our family and I.

Q. One of the things that's allowed that defense is pressed corners that you've had forever. And now you may lose another one. Is that something when you beyond the coaching change, when you start to look forward, is there another person on that program? Are there two more guys that allow you to play defense?

HARLON BARNETT: That's what we recruit to, so that's what we're doing. That's what we recruit to. So we feel like each have guys, guys that are coming that can do what we ask them to do for us. So we feel pretty good about it, absolutely.

Q. But a guy like Trae Waynes, his development over the last two years?

HARLON BARNETT: That's why they call us "coach." It's not all coach. Credit to him, to him for being the guy we thought we saw coming out of high school and there are other guys like that as well. So we'll just have to develop him and keep him going and look forward to a really good spring.

Q. Initial reaction, what was it like when you were in the room with who? Who said what?

HARLON BARNETT: Initial reaction, I hate to be the Debbie Downer of it all but over the last several years, obviously Pat has had opportunities to possibly leave.

Doing so, Coach Dantonio has brought me in, has brought Mike in, and talked about what would possibly happen if Pat left.

So now that he has actually gone, then what Coach Dantonio talked about has come to fruition. So it's something we had a good feeling about, and I know Coach Dantonio is a man of his word.

Not to be speaking just to be speaking the same things, I kind of had a feeling that would happen if Pat has his opportunity.

So obviously even knowing that, it's still a great experience, great feeling knowing that, hey, we're going to have a chance to keep this thing going, that we've been a part of it to keep going and growing and doing a good job.

Q. Were you told first?

HARLON BARNETT: First of all, I had to confirm with the wife. So we confirmed, and we were in agreement. You want to be in agreement at home, so we were in agreement. Talked to her about it and then she told the kids. And then after that, you know, it was pretty much out there before I could get to anybody else to announce it to them.

But, you know, a lot of congratulatory messages I've gotten in the last day and a half or so. And, of course, I called my parents and they were really excited. We're a Spartan family.

Q. Did you hear from Nick Saban yet?

HARLON BARNETT: I've not heard from Nick. But, you know, don't expect to. I know what he's thinking and how he feels, and so he's one of those type of people you don't have to talk to a lot to know that you feel how we feel about each other. You know what I mean? That make sense? And you know, obviously, great coach, man.

Q. You said you talked to Coach Dantonio before. Was the co defensive coordinator plan in place, or was it just pretty clear that you'd be elevated?

HARLON BARNETT: It was kind of talked about co with Mike.

Q. Even in past years even?

HARLON BARNETT: In past years, was talking about if something happened with Pat with another job.

HARLON BARNETT: Like, UConn was a pretty obvious one.

Q. Akron was three years ago.

HARLON BARNETT: As a head coach, you've got to always be thinking if a guy leaves, what am I going to do? And he's one of those type of guys that will share that with certain people. And he shared that with Mike and I individually, and so he's a man of his words.

Q. Pat said that in the past when he didn't get the job, you and Mike would be like "awww"?

HARLON BARNETT: No, he didn't say that.

Q. No, he said he felt you might be kind of like that because you wanted opportunities?

HARLON BARNETT: Not at all. Not at all, man. Not at all. We love working with Pat, and it was a great 11 years. A great 11 years.

I know everybody was talking about eight because that's how long we've been here, but it was three prior at Cincinnati and we got together. Nobody knew anybody. We didn't know we didn't even know one another and Coach D. put the staff together. And, man, it has worked out extremely great.

Q. One of the things in asking your players to describe you, a couple words came up. The word respect very quickly and also when you do speak, that they tune in. Talk about that relationship with them and how that benefits you in the transition.

HARLON BARNETT: I'm glad to hear that. I didn't know that. But, you know, I think to get respect you have to give it. And so I try to treat them like young men. I don't try to treat them like kids. And at the same time, I try to give them things that are factual, not just talking. I was feeling sometimes there's coach speak and there's real speak, not only for life but also for how you do things on the football field. I always try to give real speak.

I try not to forget, although it's been many years ago since I last played. But I try not to forget how it was to be a player and get into their mindset. So maybe that has a little something to do with it. But I think, like I said, to get respect, you have to give it and that's how I treat those guys.

Q. Will there be just some natural changes in the defense? I know Coach D. said earlier this year as offenses evolve, you guys evolve too. I know pressed corners has been the calling card. But was there going to have to be some tinkering and changes anyway? Would you anticipate the Spartans we see next year looking a little different on defense?

HARLON BARNETT: Believe it or not, we always try to tinker something here and there. We go and visit other teams even since Pat Narduzzi has been here. We always talk about tinkering. Even our base calling card has been press corners, two high safeties. Even with us evolving, we've got to evolve with them. I hear Pat calling me right now, Coach, you've got three minutes.

Q. You don't have to take orders much longer.

HARLON BARNETT: That's good. That's fine. He's calling, helping me out. That's what he's doing, but we always got to tinker things here and see how it comes out.