Virginia State University will have a new head coach on the sidelines for its Spring Game this Saturday, April 9, at Rogers Stadium. Kickoff is set for 9 a.m.

Coach Shannon Harris will be calling the shots as the Trojans’ interim head coach following Coach Reggie Barlow’s  resignation last month.

Coach Barlow left Ettrick to become head coach of the San Antonio franchise of the XFL.

Meanwhile, a nationwide search is underway for a full-time head coach. VSU will opens its 2022 season on Sept. 3 at Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, N.C.

In five seasons between 2016 and 2021, Coach Barlow guided the Trojans to a 34-16 overall mark that included a 25-10 mark against CIAA rivals. VSU opted out of the 2020 season due to the pandemic.

VSU won the 2017 CIAA title under Coach Barlow and advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs, losing to West Georgia.

Coach Harris arrived at VSU last season and served under Coach Barlow as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

He has a long coaching history with HBCUs. The Tennessee native has been an assistant coach at Tennessee State, Hampton, Alabama State and Alcorn. As a player, he was a standout quarterback at Tennessee State.

The VSU coaches will be focused on the quarterback position. The Trojans used four different signal callers in 2021 — Chauncey Caldwell, D’Vonte Waller, Jordan Davis and Mark Wright. All had their moments but none established himself as a clear No. 1.

Before his resignation, Coach Barlow signed 20 athletes for the upcoming freshman class. That includes quarterback Saquan Miles from Norfolk’s Maury High School. Miles led Maury High to a 9-2 record last fall.