St. Petersburg Times Online: Business

Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies

Got a minute? Chad Barnhardt, USF offensive grad assistant

By GREG AUMAN, Times Staff Writer
Published November 16, 2005

Chad Barnhardt, the first starting quarterback in USF history from 1997-98, is back with the Bulls this season as a graduate assistant.

Without using the word "trailer," your favorite memory of USF's humble beginnings?

At Cumberland (in 1997), I remember seeing the coaches sitting on top of the press box. There wasn't room for them inside, so they had to sit up on top, with their legs dangling over the edge.

Does that make you appreciate this $18-million facility a little more?

I don't think all the assistants even had offices in the trailers. The GAs didn't; they kinda worked where they could find room. To go from that to this is pretty special.

You were the head football coach at Lake Wales High, but you also were head baseball coach for three years. You miss that?

I miss it, because it was something I grew up playing. (Baseball) was my first love. I really didn't play much football until high school, but I played baseball when I was 6.

How do the hours as a college GA compare to a head coach in high school?

It's obviously a lot more here. You're here later. You spend a lot more time on football. In high school, you're constantly out in the halls, making sure kids are in class, more time dealing with parents. We're here til 11 or 12 Sunday to Wednesday, and I usually get in here around 8:15. Thursdays we can do what we want to do.

© Copyright, St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.