Matt Barnes is returning to the Big Ten.
The former Ohio State assistant is joining Maryland's staff as its special teams coach. Barnes previously coached linebackers and special teams for the Terrapins from 2016-18.
Maryland is expected to hire Matt Barnes as special teams coordinator, sources tell @CBSSports.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) March 1, 2026
Barnes, who worked at Maryland from 2016-18, was most recently co-DC at Mississippi State. Before that, was DC at Memphis and an assistant at Ohio State, including interim DC in 2021. pic.twitter.com/pEyM5MZIkw
Barnes was one of Ryan Day’s initial hires when he became Ohio State’s head coach in 2019. He spent three years with the Buckeyes, serving as special teams coordinator and assistant defensive backs coach for two years before being promoted to secondary coach after the 2020 season. Barnes took over defensive play-calling duties from Kerry Coombs after the first two games of the 2021 season.
While Barnes hoped to remain with the Buckeyes after Day hired Jim Knowles as defensive coordinator entering 2022, Knowles opted to bring in former Ohio State player and NFL assistant Tim Walton to coach the team’s secondary. Knowles also hired Perry Eliano to assist Walton with the safeties.
Following his time at Ohio State, Barnes served as defensive coordinator at Memphis in 2022 and 2023. He then joined Mississippi State as safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator in 2024, spending two seasons with the Bulldogs before returning to Maryland.
