As a linebacker for Salisbury University, Matt Barnes’leadership led to being named a team captain for head coach Sherman Wood’s Sea Gulls. After graduating in 2008, Barnes embarked on a coaching career that brought him to the University of Maryland. Barnes is beginning his third season as the linebackers coach on DJ Durkin’s staff.

“I used my resources at Salisbury and our coaching staff was phenomenal,” Barnes said. “Most of them are still in place there and they sort of helped me cultivate a thirst for knowledge of the game.”

Barnes and Durkin were assistants on the 2012 Florida staff along with another former Sea Gull, current Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn.