George Barnett

Hometown: Tuscola, Ill. Position: Assistant Coach/Offensive Line - Running Game Coord. Alma Mater: Millikin, 1998

George Barnett begins his second season on the Redbird coaching staff as the offensive line coach and running game coordinator.

In his first year with the Redbirds, the offensive line unit helped protect Redbird quarterbacks and led the way for an offense that averaged 258.4 yards per game and finished the season ranked 16th in the nation in passing offense. With an experienced group of lineman that included 2009 All-MVFC second-team selection Nick Bledsoe and 2010 All-MVFC second-team selection Cal McCarthy, the Redbirds recorded the seventh-highest scoring total in school history (321) and team's highest total since scoring 324 in 2007. In addition, running backs Erik Smith (4.6) and Ashton Leggett (4.3) each averaged over four yards per carry and Leggett led the team with eight rushing touchdowns.

Barnett came to Illinois State in 2010 following a two-year stint as the offensive line coach at Division II powerhouse Grand Valley State, which advanced to the 2009 NCAA Division II national title game.
He inherited a group that returned all five starters from the previous season and helped the ISU passing offense rank first in the Valley with an average of 246.4 yards per game and fourth in total offense at 345.1 yards per game in 2009. That unit also allowed the second fewest sacks in the Missouri Valley Football Conference (14) and ranked 18th in the nation in sacks allowed (1.27).

The Tuscola, Ill., native thrived in his two seasons at GVSU as offensive line coach and helped the Lakers' offense become one of the best in the country. In 2009, GVSU ranked third in the country in sacks allowed (.60) after giving up just nine sacks in 15 games played. The Lakers also ranked 11th in the country in rushing offense (227.5 ypg), 12th in total offense (450.1 ypg) and 14th in scoring offense (35.8 ppg). Barnett also mentored senior Nick McDonald, who was a consensus Division II All-American and the GLIAC Offensive Lineman of the Year. In 2008, Barnett guided the GVSU offensive line unit that saw all five of its starters (Sam Allen, Cameron Bradfield, Billy Eisenhardt, Nick McDonald and Jacob Topp) earn All-GLIAC honors. The Lakers finished the season ranked 10th in the nation in scoring (38.5 ppg), 13th in sacks allowed (1.08), 14th in rushing (228.4 ypg) and 25th in total offense (429.0 ypg).

Barnett came to Grand Valley State after a three-year stint as offensive line coach at Indianapolis. The Greyhound offense increased its production every season behind the Barnett-led offensive line. Indianapolis recorded four-year highs offensively in passing yards (234.1 ypg), rushing offense (189.2 ypg) and total offense (423.3 ypg) in 2007.

Prior to his arrival at Indianapolis, Barnett spent the 2004 season at Illinois where he was a graduate assistant and worked with the offensive line as well as coordinated the defensive scout team for the Illini.
Barnett began his coaching career and taught for five years at Mattoon (Ill.) High School from 1999-2003. He served as assistant head coach for the Green Wave's state semifinalist team in 2003, working as offensive coordinator and coach of both the offensive and defensive lines.

He also served one year as Mattoon's varsity line coach and sophomore defensive coordinator before becoming the varsity offensive coordinator.

Barnett earned a bachelor of science degree in physical education in 1998 from Millikin in Decatur, Ill. He was a four-year football letterwinner for the Big Blue and earned all-conference plaudits. In addition, he was named to the National Dean's List while at Millikin.
He and his wife, Lori, reside in Bloomington, with their children Elle and James.

BARNETT COACHING FILE