Jonathan Smith provides update on Harlon Barnett’s coaching status

Jonathan Smith spoke to the media on Wednesday and provided an update to Harlon Barnett’s status with the team.

Jonathan Smith has done an excellent job filling out his staff since coming to East Lansing. He is just about finished hiring his staff, but one big question still remains: Will Harlon Barnett be on the staff?

As you all know, after Mel Tucker was suspended and then fired, Barnett took over as our interim head coach. Even though the season didn’t go as planned, we all should be extremely thankful for him stepping in during such a difficult time. Harlon got an interview for the full-time head coaching job, but that obviously didn’t go his way. Now Smith has to decide if he wants to keep Barnett on his staff.

Coach Smith speaks on Harlon Barnett

When asked about Barnett’s status on his staff, Graham Couch of the Lansing State Journal reported that Smith said, “that’s to be determined.”

Asked Jonathan Smith about Harlon Barnett staying on staff. Said that's to be determine. They've met a couple times, Smith said he's been helpful, but that he also has opportunities elsewhere.

— Graham Couch (@Graham_Couch) December 20, 2023

I am very glad that Smith seems to be giving Barnett a chance to earn a spot on his staff. Keeping Barnett around up to this point was a genius idea by Smith as Barnett can help keep the current recruits in the 2024 class committed to Michigan State. The last part of the second quote shared is what is most interesting to me.

Harlon Barnett has other opportunities

It’s no secret that Barnett loves Michigan State. I believe it’s his first choice to stay in East Lansing on Smith’s staff. However, I’m not sure if that is the best fit for our program moving forward. As I mentioned, Barnett deserves all the credit and respect in the world for stepping in when he did. But I think his time as the interim head coach showed that we need to move in a different direction. Our program needs to start from scratch, and unfortunately, that might mean not adding Barnett to the staff.

Thankfully it sounds like Barnett has other job opportunities available to him. So if Smith decides to move on from Harlon, he still should have an opportunity to coach elsewhere.

At the end of the day, I won’t be upset with either decision. There are both pros and cons to keeping Barnett on staff, and if he doesn’t get hired at least he has other opportunities outside of East Lansing. Whatever happens, I’ll always support Harlon and I hope all of Spartan Nation will as well.