TXST Release:
SAN MARCOS, Texas – One of Texas State’s greatest players in program history is returning to San Marcos as head coach GJ Kinne officially announced on Wednesday that Barrick Nealy will rejoin the program as the team’s running backs coach.
Nealy, a three-year letterwinner for the Bobcats who led Texas State to the semifinals of the 2005 FCS Playoffs, joins Texas State after spending the last six years at UTEP.
“When you have the opportunity to bring back not only a Bobcat legend but also a gifted coach and an outstanding recruiter, we had to jump at it, and we’re excited to bring Coach Nealy on board,” said Kinne. “Barrick is well-respected in this profession and community, and his experience at the high school level and college level in San Marcos and in the state of Texas makes us even stronger. We look forward to having Coach Nealy and his family come back home and helping us reach our goal of winning championships.”
Since 2018, Nealy was a member of the UTEP coaching staff. He started as the director of player development and high school relations in 2018 then was elevated to the recruiting coordinator/senior player personnel director in 2019. In 2020 and 2021, Nealy was promoted to running backs coach while also maintaining the title of recruiting coordinator, and in 2022 and 2023, he was named the assistant head coach/running backs.
“Returning to the community that shaped me as a student-athlete is not only a professional milestone, but it also holds tremendous sentimental value to my family and me,” said Nealy. “I’m so grateful for Coach Kinne. He flat out made it happen. The opportunity to impact young lives with this amazing coaching staff is what I look forward to the most. This transition is truly a homecoming in every way. Tiffany and I are honored to be a small part of the continued growth and success of our beloved alma mater. Eat ‘Em Up, Cats!”
Nealy’s coaching career began in 2011 at San Marcos Academy where he served as the quarterbacks and wide receivers coach for two seasons before becoming the offensive coordinator from 2013-17. He helped lead the team to a 2015 TCAL state championship.
As a Bobcat from 2003 to 2005, Nealy established himself as one of the program’s most prolific quarterbacks. His run piloting the Bobcat offense culminated with the conference championship season in 2005 when he was named a second team All-American and Southland Conference Player of the Year as well as finished fifth in voting for the Walter Payton Award. He had 2,875 passing yards, 1,057 rushing yards, and 34 total touchdowns that season while helping the Bobcats close out the year ranked No. 4 in the nation.
Nealy, who still owns seven school records and is top-10 in in 30 different categories for single-season and career program records, threw for 7,206 yards and 52 touchdowns as a Bobcat. The dual-threat quarterback had 8,933 total yards and 70 touchdowns.
After his Bobcat career, Nealy signed as an undrafted free agent with the Minnesota Vikings in 2006 before playing five years as a quarterback for the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League. He was a member of the Stampeders when they won the 2008 Grey Cup.
A native of Dallas and product of W.H. Adamson High School, Nealy returned to Texas State to complete his degree in applied arts and sciences in 2017.
The Bobcats finished the 2023 season ranked 25th in the country and second in the Sun Belt in rushing offense with 186.7 rushing yards per game.
Texas State is also coming off a 2023 campaign in which it set an FBS program record for wins in a season and won its first ever bowl game with a 24-point win over Rice in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl.
