North Carolina State University Athletics
Barry Named Wolfpack Offensive Line Coach
3/5/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 5, 2003
NC State head football coach Chuck Amato has announced that Michael Barry, who served as the offensive line coach at the University of Tennessee from 1998-2002, has been tabbed to coach the offensive line for the Wolfpack. Barry, a 34-year veteran of the coaching ranks, has coached for two national championship squads, at Tennessee in 1998 and Colorado in 1990.
"Mike has been a friend for a long time and he is a great teacher and great recruiter," said Amato. "He's worked under some outstanding coaches and has been in the big arenas. With two national championships under his belt, he knows what it takes to raise our program to that level."
The 56-year-old Barry, who coached with Amato at the University of Arizona from 1980-81, was recognized as the Southeastern Conference's outstanding offensive line coach for his work with the 1998 national championship team. He served as the offensive line coach for five years at Southern California (1993-1997) and in that same position from 1987-92 with the Colorado Buffaloes. Barry spent 1986 as an assistant coach for Iowa State after coaching on two USFL teams; the New Orleans/Portland Breakers (1984-85) and the San Antonio Gunslingers (1984). Before his time at Arizona from 1980-83, Barry worked with the offensive line at Southern Illinois from 1977-80. From 1970-73, Barry coached at Carbondale High School in Carbondale, Ill. and spent 1973-76 at Fenwick Prep School in Oak Park, Ill., his alma mater.
In May 2002, he was inducted into the Chicago Catholic League Hall of Fame because of his contributions to the renowned high school league in Chicago, Ill.
A native of New York City (Brooklyn), Barry attended Nebraska from 1964-66 and Southern Illinois from 1966-69. He graduated in 1969 with a degree in education from Southern Illinois, where he worked as a graduate assistant coach during the 1969 season. In 1971, he earned his master's degree in recreation and special education from Southern Illinois.
Barry is married to the former Sherry Wallace, and they have four children, Joe Barry, Courtney Barry, Fred Smith, and Ashley Smith, and two grandchildren, Camryn and Lauren. Barry's son, Joe, is the linebackers coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
