Reggie Barlow, a former NFL player and Alabama State University football coach, will be introduced as the new football coach at Virginia State University, the Free Press has learned.

The announcement is to be made Thursday, May 5, by VSU Athletic Director Peggy Davis at the university’s Gateway Dining and Events Center.

The 43-year-old Coach Barlow posted a 49-42 record between 2007 and 2014 at his alma mater, Alabama State, located in his hometown of Montgomery, Ala.

Under Coach Barlow, Alabama State won three consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Eastern Division titles from 2010 to 2012.

While serving as assistant coach at Alabama State in 2005-06, Coach Barlow helped groom quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, now with the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks.

Coach Barlow was a record-setting receiver at Alabama State from 1992 to 1995, and was drafted in 1996 by the Jacksonville Jaguars. In 1997, with Jacksonville, Coach Barlow led the NFL in total yards returning punts (555).

He later earned a Super Bowl ring in 2003 while playing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.       

Coach Barlow did not coach this past season while serving on the faculty of Montgomery’s Johnny Carr Middle School.

At VSU, Coach Barlow will succeed Byron Thweatt, who resigned after posting a 6-4 record in one season.

Coach Thweatt left to take an assistant coach position at James Madison University.

Prior to Coach Thweatt’s short tenure, Latrell Scott was 19-3 in 2013 and 2014 as VSU coach. Coach Scott left VSU to become head coach at Norfolk State University.