A week after one former NFL start-turned-football coach was booted from his alma mater, it looks like another one is about to follow suit. The Huntsville Times is reporting that Alabama State officials have asked Reggie Barlow to step down as head coach.
Earlier this year, Barlow signed a three-year extension. ASU is currently 4-5, having lost four games in a row after falling to Southern 28-21 on Saturday.
Barlow confirmed to the Montgomery Advertiser on Tuesday night that ASU athletic director Melvin Hines met with Barlow earlier in the day and gave the eight-year head coach an ultimatum: walk away now or at the end of the year.
“I’ll be honest, it was a complete surprise to me,” said Barlow, who has a record of 46-41 as a head coach at ASU. “It caught me off-guard completely. We just signed a contract here.”
Barlow played his college ball at Alabama State before going on to an eight-year pro career as a receiver and kick returner. He took over the team on an interim basis in 2007 after starting his career as a quarterback coach. On multiple occasions, he’s turned down jobs on NFL staffs to stay at his alma mater.
If Barlow is out, he’d join former FAMU player-turned-head coach Earl Holmes, who was fired last Tuesday. Barlow’s career record stands at 46-42, and includes three-straight SWAC East Division titles from 2010-2012.