XFL DC Defenders

The Sayings and Motivation Behind Reggie Barlow, XFL Coach of the Year

Published on May 4, 2023 under XFL (XFL)
DC Defenders News Release


It was one of the first in-person meetings of the year, maybe even the first, when tight end Briley Moore realized D.C. Defenders head coach Reggie Barlow was the real deal.

He interacted a few times with Barlow via phone calls and Zoom before arriving in Texas for training camp. It was the same for many members of the team, which was still in the early stages of forming its strong chemistry.

Barlow asked the group in front of him if they loved football. Then, he asked a follow-up question: "How do you spell love?"

"T-i-m-e," Barlow said.

You show you love football by spending time with it, he emphasized. By spending time in the playbook. By spending time focusing during practice. By spending time bonding with your teammates.

Barlow has continued to ask his team how do you spell love? And the team keeps living by those words.

"I would say that that was a really cool first impression in person to hear that," Moore said. "The better thing is he didn't just say that day one just to check a box. He talks about that every single day. He's proven that that's how he approaches it so that's obviously how we approach it as players."

How do you spell love is one of many motifs and sayings Barlow has used to establish a culture that has propelled the team to a 9-1 regular season, a South Division title and a spot in next Saturday's XFL Championship in San Antonio.

And, as of Tuesday, boosted Barlow to the honor of XFL Coach of the Year.

"You want to win games but my goal is to earn and keep the respect of these players and coaches, that they know that we care for them and the well-being of them and their families and to obviously develop them where they are better football players and better people because of the experience that they've had with our coaches and myself," Barlow said.

Barlow has been a major reason for the Defenders success throughout the season. The 50-year-old D.C. head coach's sincere approach has been infectious to the Defenders players.

It doesn't surprise offensive coordinator Fred Kaiss, who seen first-hand many times how being around Barlow can impact someone's life.

Kaiss first coached with Barlow for four seasons about a decade ago at Alabama State. When he entered semi-retirement after the 2017 season, Kaiss said there was one coach that could return him to the field: Barlow, his favorite coach he ever worked for over a career that stretches back nearly three decades.

What makes Barlow so good as a coach, Kaiss said, is his ability to relate to players, his leadership qualities and his caring attitude toward everyone.

Before every season, Kaiss said, Barlow writes a note to the spouses of all his coaches. In the letter, Barlow thanks them for allowing their significant others to sacrifice their time and energy for the good of the organization.

"He cares about his team. He cares about his coaches. He cares about his neighbors," Kaiss said. "He really cares about people, and it shows in his actions and the person who he is."

Barlow's background is different from the other seven coaches in the league. After a seven-year NFL career as a wide receiver and kick returner, Barlow coached at FCS Alabama State and Division II Virginia State, two HBCUs.

An alumnus of Alabama State, Barlow coached the team from 2007-2014 to a 49-42 record. He then coached Virginia State from 2016-21 with a 68% winning percentage (34-16). He won four division titles.

Barlow is proud of his HBCU background and has used his opportunity to help lift others. But he also understands he is symbolizing HBCUs at the professional level, which is something he is not taking lightly.

"We're representing a lot of people that deserve an opportunity to coach on a higher level from an HBCU," Barlow said. "Players that deserve to be on another level that (have) been at HBCU. There's so many really good coaches in the CIAA, the SWAC, the SAIC that haven't had an opportunity to coach on this level or another level just because there's a stigma that goes with it."

The Defenders players also recognize this. In addition to improving their odds to continue their football careers, the players also look at this season as an opportunity to help elevate Barlow's profile.

Moore said the players recognized early in training camp that Barlow was a genuine man with good intentions for the team. They liked playing for him, and they want to be able to return the favor.

They don't openly discuss it, Moore explained, but the players know what this opportunity means to Barlow and what it can lead to down the road. The group wants to do everything they can to help him succeed - just like he is doing with each of them.

"There comes a lot of times based on people's background that they have to continue to show that they know what they're doing and that they're good at their job," Moore said. "He's obviously done that time and time again. I just think that this is another stepping stone that will hopefully establish who he is and what he is in the coaching world and get him to where his goals are."

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