STATESBORO, Ga. - Georgia Southern Head Men's Soccer Coach John Murphy has announced the addition of Joe Barber to the staff as an assistant coach for the Eagles.

Barber joins Georgia Southern from Temple, where he has served the last two seas ons as an assistant coach. During his two seasons, the Owls put together a 19-14-3 overall record, including an impressive 14-3-2 record at home, with an unbeaten 2016 season. 2017 was a program-best fourth-place finish in the American Athletic Conference.

"We are very happy to welcome Joe to Statesboro as we begin our preparations for the 2018 season," Murphy said. "Joe brings a great deal of experience as a former player and young coach that will allow him to fit in immediately to our team's short and long term goals. His passion and knowledge for the game is exactly what we are looking for as we develop as a program. Additionally, his eye for talent and his outstanding contacts regionally, nationally and abroad will enhance our recruiting strategies. He has made a positive impact at every stop he has had as a coach and I expect him to do the same here at Georgia Southern"

"I'm very happy to be here at Georgia Southern, and to be given this opportunity to try and help take the men's program forward," Barber said. "I'm quite Impressed with a lot of the potential and resources that we have here in Statesboro.I think we can make it into a conducive environment to develop a great college soccer tradition. I would also like to thank Coach Murphy for this tremendous opportunity."

Prior to Temple, Barber served as an assistant coach at Eastern Florida State College for the 2015 season, helping the Titans finish third at the NJCAA Division I National Championships. The team finished with a 15-2-2 overall record and produced four NJCAA All-Americans.

Barber also served as a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Mobile in 2014, helping the team win the Southern States Athletic Conference regular season title, advance to the NAIA National Final Eight. The Rams ended the season with a 15-4-3 overall record and a final NAIA national ranking of No. 6.

A graduate of the Florida Institute of Technology in 2014, Barber played two seasons for the Panthers, after transferring from Limestone College, where he played his first two years collegiately. He received his bachelor's degree in Business Administration from FIT, minoring in Sustainability.

Before coming to the United States to play collegiately, Barber played semi-professionally in England and also participated in parts of four seasons in the States in the PDL. 

A native of Leeds, England, Barber holds his NSCAA Advanced National Diploma, USSF E License and the English FA Level 2 coaching qualifications.