NORFOLK, VA—Old Dominion University has hired Franklin High School graduate Lamar Barrett to join the staff of new head coach Jeff Jones.

Barrett, who played varsity basketball for the Broncos beginning in 1986, graduated from FHS in 1989. He joins Jones’ ODU staff having previously coached with him at American University.

“Lamar has worked for me the last three years as an assistant at American and has done a tremendous job. His experiences are varied and I think he will be a great mentor for the student athletes on our team and a tremendous ambassador for Old Dominion University basketball, “ Jones said.

“His diverse experiences include contacts in a wide range of geographic areas, but especially in the Washington, DC area, where in addition to working at AU, Lamar worked as a high school coach for a number of years. As people will find out, Lamar is an extremely positive person who brings a lot of positive energy to the job and will have an excellent rapport with the young men on the basketball team.”

In an interview with The Tidewater News, Barrett said he was excited to take the job because it is “a terrific chance to come home and work for a state school that’s been good for a very long time. It’s great to get to coach a team that you watched growing up.”

Barrett spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Brown University before joining the American staff. He coached three All-Ivy League selections with Brown and was primarily responsible for recruiting. At AU, Barrett served in multiple facets including skill development, recruiting and game-planning.

Barrett graduated from Elizabeth City State University in 1994 with a BS in Business Administration prior to two years at Longwood University. At Elizabeth City State, Barrett was a two-year captain for the Vikings.

A native of Franklin, Barrett is married to the former Cassandra Woodhouse.