Texas Tech University Athletics
Barr Named to Texas Tech Football Staff
January 23, 2003 | Football
Jan. 23, 2003
LUBBOCK, Texas - Johnny Barr, who has Big 12 coaching stops at Oklahoma State and Kansas, starts his third tour of duty in the league as a member of the Texas Tech coaching staff. Barr replaces Ron Harris, who left to become the defensive coordinator at Houston.
Prior to his appointment at Kansas in 2001, Barr, who will coach the defensive line at Tech, worked for four years (1997-2000) at Arizona State. Past experience also includes stops at Oklahoma State and Oklahoma.
"Coach Barr is a tremendous coach and is a great addition to our staff," Tech head coach Mike Leach said. "He is a solid recruiter and is well known throughout his home state of Texas and across the country."
During his four years at Arizona State, Barr helped the Sun Devils to a bowl victory in the 1997 Sun Bowl and appearances in the 1999 and 2000 Aloha Bowl. He also coached ASU linebacker Adam Archuleta, the 2000 Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year.
Barr served two stints on the coaching staff at Oklahoma State. He served as defensive coordinator and linebacker coach for two seasons (1995-96) with the Cowboys and also was Pat Jones' staff as defensive coordinator and outside linebacker coach for three years (1986-88). He helped OSU to wins in the 1987 Sun Bowl and the 1988 Holiday Bowl.
Barr worked six years (1989-94) as inside linebackers coach at Oklahoma and played a significant role in the Sooners wins in the 1991 Gator Bowl and the 1993 John Hancock Bowl and OU's appearance in the 1994 Copper Bowl.
A native of Atlanta, Texas, Barr was a three-year letterman as a wide receiver for the Sooners. He helped his team to Big Eight Conference titles in 1967 ad 1968 and set three school records with his nine receptions for 138 yards and two touchdowns in the 1968 Bluebonnet Bowl.
Barr started his coaching career in 1970 as a freshman coach at OU. He worked at both the high school and junior college levels before taking over as secondary coach for three seasons (1979-82) at Lamar University. He also worked for three years (1983-85) as defensive coordinator at Southwest Texas State.
