Former Michigan State assistant Harlon Barnett spotted at Breslin Center
Can you hear it? The “bring Harlon Barnett back to Michigan State” crowd is in full force after a photo of the former Spartans assistant at the Breslin Center made its way to Twitter.
On Saturday, as Michigan State hosted Maryland in men’s basketball, Barnett was spotted at the game, seated between Ron Burton and Mike Tressel. Coincidentally, Burton and Tressel are currently the only two members from Mark Dantonio’s staff that Mel Tucker has decided to retain (as of Saturday night).
That photo, obviously, has resulted in speculation that Barnett could be making a return to East Lansing. However, there has been no word on that front — he could just be in town to support Tucker, Burton, Tressel and the Michigan State basketball team.
Rico Beard of The Spartan Beat shared the photo on Twitter:
Hmmmm…. pic.twitter.com/BhKjEhsNxe
— Rico Beard (@RicoBeard) February 15, 2020
Barnett was at Michigan State for a large portion of Dantonio’s stint with the program. From 2007-14, he served as the defensive backs coach. In 2015, Barnett received a promotion, serving as assistant head coach, co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach. He held those positions through the 2017 season.
In 2018, Barnett left East Lansing to join Willie Taggart’s staff at Florida State, where he was the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach.
Barnett was also a former player for the Spartans, suiting up from 1986-89.