Penn State associate head coach Steve Barnes will leave the program to take a job in the athletics department at his alma mater Ithaca College.
Barnes is the second Penn State associate head coach to leave the program this offseason: Matt Hurst was announced in April as the new head coach of Chelsea Piers Aquatic Club in Connecticut.
Barnes spent the last 9 seasons at Penn State, including the last 3 as an associate head coach. He came to State College at the start of the Tim Murphy era as the program’s new head coach, hired in 2013.
Prior to Penn State, he spent four seasons as the head coach of Wabash College, which is a Division III school like Ithaca College. Before that, he spent three seasons as an assistant at another D3 program, Kalamazoo College, including three months months as interim head coach during Kathy MIlliken’s maternity leave.
A 2005 graduate of Ithaca College, Barnes was a four-time All-American and team MVP for the Bombers. Barnes was a 2005 ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-America honoree and was selected as the Ithaca College Athlete of the Year from 2002-05. He earned Scholar All-America honors from the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) four consecutive years. Barnes holds the Ithaca records in the 500, 1000 and 1650 freestyle races, and was part of the record-setting 800-yard freestyle relay team.
Barnes earned his master’s degree in exercise science from Ithaca in 2006, while working as an assistant coach for the Bombers. His undergraduate study there was in television/radio. He was responsible for dryland training and weightlifting programs for the team in addition to coordinating recruiting while coaching the Bombers.
At Ithaca, he will serve as Assistant Director of Athletics, Athletics & Events Center Operations, and Budget Management. He will begin that role on July 11.
https://www.pennlive.com/sports/2018/04/penn_state_investigates_swim_t.html
Was your kid one of the lazy ones that was cut then didn’t take any responsibility for their actions?
FYI, my kid was never kicked off the team, my kids’ grades helped the teams GPA, my kid asked for help with Mental health issues and was told they were lazy and wasn’t trying when they were clearly struggling and seeing a mental health provider at school. Steve response you just aren’t trying hard enough.
https://www.pennlive.com/sports/2018/04/penn_state_swimmers_including.html
Why didn’t you include this one?
Two coaches leave for what is considered lesser jobs. Barnes was supposed to take over as head coach at PSU once Murphy retired. Their departure after poor seasons and 15 cuts is very coincidental. There are more swimmers seeking mental health counseling than at any time in past. Swimmers were verbally and mentally abused. School is aware and Jen james has records. Looks like these moves are a result. They are keeping quiet and allowing these coaches to “leave”. Truth will come out.
Good bye and good riddens…PSU is better without Steve. Matt will be missed.
https://www.pennlive.com/sports/2018/04/penn_state_investigates_swim_t.html
That article is 4years old…If it was substantiated, wouldn’t PSU (with their history of scandal) removed him from his position…….
You’re a coward and uninformed. Ask all but 3 former disgruntled athletes who were cut for being lazy what Steve is like. You’re a joke and I imagine who you’re “defunding” is as well
https://www.pennlive.com/sports/2018/04/penn_state_swimmers_including.html
Coachy,
There are 2 sides to every story. Of course, Shane was treated well he gave PSU glory like no other swimmer had in a long time. Ally Mchugh left PSU the minute she graduated to follow Erik Posgay to Wisconsin.
There were also swimmers who also spoke very highly of Terri McKeever when she was a bully to others. Everything is not what it seems to be…a college will defend its coaches it also took Penn State how many years to get rid of Sandusky if you were going there with your comment!