UNIVERSITY CENTER -- Saginaw Valley State University Director of Athletics John Decker has announced that Louis Barrow has been named head coach of the Men's Soccer program. Barrow takes over the program as head coach after serving as an assistant coach on the team's staff the past two seasons. 

"I want to begin by thanking John Decker and Angela Pohl for this very exciting opportunity," said Barrow. "I am delighted to be the head coach of the Men's Soccer program and am eager to get started with the lads. With the players that we have returning and the caliber of the prospects we have coming in, I am confident we can continue the tremendous success of this program on the regional and national level."

Barrow was a two year student-athlete for the Cardinals, playing as a defender in the 2015 and 2016 seasons before joining the team's coaching staff. Saginaw Valley competed in the NCAA Division II Tournament all of the past four years with him a member of the team, including a 2018 GLIAC regular season championship and trip to the NCAA Division II Round of 16 with Barrow as an assistant. In Barrow's first season as a student-athlete in 2015, the Cards advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II Tournament. 

"I can not stress enough the extent to which Andy Wagstaff and Luke Ruff helped mold me into the coach that I am today," added Barrow. "I feel with my experience working alongside them and being a part of this program the past four seasons, we are positioned for great success. I would also like to thank the Men's Soccer student-athletes who have been working tirelessly this semester. The work ethic and energy displayed throughout the transition has been great and they are looking forward to continuing the Cardinal tradition of success as well!"

Saginaw Valley State Director of Athletics John Decker added his thoughts on the addition of Barrow as the new man in charge of the program...

"Louis will relate well with out players, having been a member of our program himself. He also is an ardent student of the game. This knowledge and his desire to excel at this level will help carry on the fine tradition of our program." 

Prior to coming to Saginaw Valley as a Men's Soccer student-athlete, Barrow played at Regis University (Colo.), where he was a two year starter for the Rangers at the defender position. He prepped at Monkseaton High School in in Whitley Bay, NorthTyneside, England and is a 2013 graduate of the school. 

Barrow, a native of Newcastle England, currently resides in Saginaw. He graduated in May 2018 with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology.