Canes linebacker hoping to join Dan Morgan as UM winners award
A five-year veteran of the Hurricanes' coaching staff, Michael Barrow enters his sixth season as the linebackers coach and fifth as special teams coach. Barrow's tenacity--that made him one of the best in the NFL--continued to influence senior Sean Spence--the Atlantic Coast Conference's fifth-leading tackler. Spence led the Canes on defense with 106 stops on the season and finished his career with 47 tackles for loss, which ranked second among active NCAA players.
Since his return to Coral Gables, Barrow has played an integral part in the development of current NFL linebackers Tavares Gooden, Darryl Sharpton, Colin McCarthy and Spencer Adkins and the graduated Spence.
This season, Barrow guided freshman Denzel Perryman to a stellar first season. Perryman finished first among ACC freshmen with 69 tackles and was second on the team while earning numerous freshmen All-America honors.
A native of Homestead, Fla., Barrow helped Spence to ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year and Freshman All-America honors in 2008. Under his tutelage, Spencer Adkins was drafted in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. Barrow also helped Glenn Cook to one of his best seasons on the field. Cook led the Hurricanes in tackles and along with Spence and Darryl Sharpton was among Miami's top tacklers.
In 2007, Barrow guided senior linebacker Tavares Gooden through a strong senior campaign at Miami. Gooden, a third-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in 2008, led the Hurricanes with 119 tackles. Under Barrow's watch, junior linebacker Colin McCarthy was the fourth-leading tackler on the team.
Barrow is one of three former Hurricane players on the current UM coaching staff (Art Kehoe and Hurlie Brown). He played for the program from 1989-92. In 1992, he earned All-America honors, was the Butkus Award runner-up and finished seventh in Heisman Trophy voting. He was also the Big East Defensive Player of the Year and finished his career as the third-leading tackler in school history.
As a Hurricane, Barrow played in 45 games, starting 37 times. He made 423 total tackles, along with seven sacks, 34 tackles for loss, three interceptions, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Barrow went on to play 13 seasons in the NFL. He was a second-round draft choice of the Houston Oilers in 1993. Barrow played for the Oilers through 1996, for the Carolina Panthers (1997-99), the New York Giants (2000-03), the Washington Redskins (2004) and the Dallas Cowboys (2005). During his NFL career, Barrow played in 173 games, making 1,133 tackles, 43 sacks and two interceptions.
After retiring from pro football, Barrow served as the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Homestead High School, his alma mater, during the 2006 season. He was inducted into the UM Sports Hall of Fame in 2005. He is an ordained Christian minister. Barrow and his wife, Shelley, have a daughter, Mikenzi (9), and sons, Kaleb (8) and John Micheal (3).
BARROW AT A GLANCE
Personal Info
Full Name
Micheal Barrow
Age
42
Hometown
Homestead, Fla.
Education
B.S. in Accounting, University of Miami (1992)
Wife
Shelly
Children
Daughter, Mikenzi; Sons, Kaleb and John Micheal
Barrow's Coaching Career
2007
Linebackers/Special Teams, University of Miami
2006
Defensive Coordinator, Homestead (Fla.) High School
Bowl Games as a Coach (3)
2010
Hyundai Sun Bowl
2009
Champs Sports Bowl
2008
Emerald Bowl
Coaching Accomplishments
Helped linebacker Sean Spence to ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and Freshman All-America honor in 2008
Bowl Games as a Player (5)
1993
Sugar Bowl
1992
Orange Bowl
1991
Cotton Bowl
1990
Sugar Bowl
1989
Orange Bowl
Honors as a Player
Starting linebacker on national championship teams at Miami in 1989 and 1991
All-America as a senior in 1992
Seventh in voting for the Heisman Trophy in 1992
Second-round draft choice of the Houston Oilers in 1993
