Steve Barrows joined the McKendree football coaching staff as the Bearcats’ defensive coordinator. Barrows will also tutor the McKendree linebackers in 2014.
Barrows came to McKendree in the spring of 2013 following a one-year stint as the offensive coordinator at the College of Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati, Ohio. As a member of the Lions’ staff, Barrows helped coach running back James Clay to Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year accolades. Clay led all NCAA Division III rushers with 2,124 yards on the ground while racking up 23 offensive touchdowns in 2012. As a team, Mount St. Joseph was 14th in NCAA Division III in rushing offense last season under Barrows’ leadership.
Before his time at Mount St. Joseph, Barrows worked at Hardin-Simmons University in Texas from the 2008 through the 2011 seasons. Barrows served as the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator during that time (the first three years as co-defensive coordinator) and linebackers coach. Barrows was also in charge of team academics. During his stay at HSU, Barrows helped guide the Cowboys to an NCAA Division III playoff berth in 2008.
Barrows spent the 2007 season as the defensive coordinator at Indiana State University. Prior to that, he had a four-year run as the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Charleston Southern University. Barrows helped revive the Buccaneers’ fortunes during his stay, taking CSU from a 1-11 mark to a 9-2 record during his final season at the school in 2006 and a Big South championship in 2005. The Buccaneers reeled off 14 straight victories while Barrows was on staff.
From 1999-2002, Barrows was the head coach at Anderson University in Indiana. Barrows guided the Ravens to 21 wins in that span, including 15 victories over his final two seasons at the helm and a 2001 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference championship.
Other collegiate coaching experience for Barrows includes stops at Bethany College (1996-98), the University of Minnesota-Morris (1994-95) and William Penn College (now University) (1991). Barrows also coached at the high school level as an assistant coach at Jacksonville (N.C.) High School from 1989-90 and again from 1992-93. Barrows was also a graduate assistant coach at the University of Washington and his alma mater, Ohio University. Barrows began his coaching days as a student assistant at Ohio.
Barrows graduated from Ohio with a bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1986, and a master’s degree in athletic administration in 1989. Barrows has one daughter, Emma, and resides in O’Fallon.
