Barry Fagan

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Seasons

• 2011-12 - Head Coach

A football-coaching lifer, Barry Fagan practices his craft with equal parts passion and philosophy.

Coach Fagan joins Ave Maria University after having an already successful coaching career that includes coaching stops on the NCAA Division I and Division II levels. He has worked at Divison I schools Wisconsin, LSU, and Miami of Ohio. Fagan most recently served as the offensive coordinator for NCAA Division II Hillsdale College where he enjoyed much success over the past several years. 

Throughout his coaching career, Fagan has unleashed explosive offenses on the GLIAC (Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference). In 1995, he guided a Ferris State offense that was ranked No. 1 in the nation in Division II, and made it to the national semifinal. In 2007, Fagan took the Hillsdale Charger offense on a scoring run unprecedented in the school's 118-year history, setting several single-season offensive records. In 2008, with a first-year starting quarterback and young players throughout the lineup, Fagan helped lead the team to 365 points scored, one of the finest offensive seasons in school history. 

Fagan's playing career took him to Penn State University, where he was a wide receiver under the guidance of legendary head coach Joe Paterno. Although his playing career was cut short because of an injury, he retained enough from that Nittany Lion coaching staff to enter the field himself shortly after graduating. 

He joined forces with Keith Otterbein at Ferris State University in 1986, where the two teamed up to lead the Bulldogs to one of their most successful eras in program, history. 

As offensive coordinator at Ferris State, Fagan guided the career of Bill Love, who in 1995, finished as runner-up in the Harlon Hill Trophy balloting, the Division II version of the Heisman Trophy. That Bulldog team led the nation in offense in 1995 under Fagan's careful leadership. 

Fagan reunited with Hillsdale College head coach Keith Otterbein prior to the 2002 season. Last year, the Chargers finished 10-3 with Fagan as offensive coordinator. Head coach Otterbein, has stated that Fagan "possesses the necessary skills - and experience - to build the Ave Maria program from the ground up."

Fagan and his wife Amy have a twelve-year-old daughter, Maura.