Carver set to hire Reggie Barlow as new football coach

Former Alabama State football coach Reggie Barlow has agreed to be Carver's new coach, according to Carver's principal Christopher Lindsey.

Lindsey confirmed the agreement in a text Saturday night. Lindsey said that the hiring was "unofficial until he clears through MCSD human resources." Lindsey also said that could not happen until the holiday break is over on Jan. 4.

Barlow had also confirmed the agreement in a text message to the Montgomery Advertiser on Thursday.

The Carver position came open two weeks ago when Joseph Kegler said he would not remain as the football coach. He led the Tigers for three seasons, going 28-7 with two region championships, but the team was knocked out of the state playoffs in the first round each of the past two seasons.

The first-round exit this past season was especially troubling for Carver supporters. Drew, a No. 4 seed, routed Carver 70-34.

Kegler, who has said he would remain as the school's athletic director, took over for Dell McGee, who left after eight seasons with 88 wins and a state championship in 2007. McGee led the Tigers to no worse than a berth in the state quarterfinals for seven straight seasons.

Barlow is Alabama State's winningest coach with a 49-42 record in eight seasons. He led the Hornets to the Southwest Athletic Conference championship game in 2010.

He accepted a three-year contract extension before the 2014 season, according to the Advertiser. Just three months later, the school fired him after a 7-5 season.

Barlow filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against the school. According to the Advertiser, Barlow and a ASU trustee, Herbert Young, got into a physical altercation during a deposition. Barlow and his attorney, Donald Jackson, said that Young became angry during questioning and the incident turned physical after a benign comment by Barlow.

Barlow and Young each filed assault charges against the other, according to the Advertiser. Barlow's charges were dismissed. Young's will be after he completes an anger management course.

Barlow's lawsuit against the school was dismissed earlier this month, according to the Advertiser. A Montgomery judge said the university's board of trustees had not yet approved the contract, so it was not finalized.

Barlow played wide receiver at Alabama State and was taken by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 1996 NFL draft. He also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, including during their Super Bowl winning season of 2002.

This story was originally published December 26, 2015 at 7:19 PM with the headline "Carver set to hire Reggie Barlow as new football coach ."