Jarrod Barnes serves as the Assistant Director of Student-Athlete Development at Clemson University acting as the athletic department’s liaison for career and professional development services for all Clemson student-athletes. Arriving in July of 2017, Jarrod has helped create the “Beyond the Game” student-athlete internship program, the Athlete Entrepreneurship Institute, and a comprehensive 4 year career development curriculum including Clemson’s student-athlete career fair.
Prior to Clemson, Jarrod was an Intern Defensive Backs Coach at The Ohio State University where he helped coach the cornerbacks and safeties. Working closely with the player development staff and Head Coach Urban Meyer, Jarrod aided in the development of Ohio State Football’s “Real Life Wednesday” program, exposing student-athletes to careers in the workplace and moderating conversations on social justice.
Jarrod is also a former student-athlete at The Ohio State University and the University of Louisville, competing on their football teams. Jarrod was the first ever Ohio State football player to pursue a Ph.D. while on the active roster. Before Ohio State, he graduated in just 3 years from the University of Louisville with a B.S. in Health and Human Performance. Jarrod then became a graduate transfer and completed his Master’s degree in Sports Management a year later at Ohio State and was named Academic All-Big Ten and nominee for the Wuerffel Trophy (College Football’s Top Community Service Award) and recipient of the John Carlos Sports Humanitarian Award in 2016. In 2017, Barnes was named a National Football Foundation scholar-athlete and Hampshire Honor Society member while also receiving the McMurray Student-Athlete Citizenship Award from The Ohio State University.
A native of Columbus, Ohio, Jarrod has been widely recognized by Who’s Who Magazine, NPR Radio, ESPN, Fox Sports, The Big Ten Network, and The Ohio State University as a top up-and- coming young professional, academic, and leader in the country.
April 23, 2024
