Bio

The 2025 campaign is the seventh for Justin Barber on staff with the Trojans. Barber serves as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator.

In his first season with TU, Barber helped the pitching staff take a step forward with a .209 opposing batting average that ranked second in the NAIA. The team also posted a remarkable 3.18 earned-run average, the fourth best ERA in the NAIA. The Trojans also ranked in the top-20 nationally with 454 strikeouts.

Barber led the Taylor hurlers to another strong showing in 2020, despite a shortened campaign. The group of pitchers delivered 13 wins and three saves, while maintaining a .255 opponents’ batting average.

In 2021, Barber guided the Trojans’ pitching staff to a standout season, sitting toward the top of numerous conference and national rankings. As a staff, the Trojans ranked first in the Crossroads League in earned run average (3.68), opponents’ batting average (.219) and strikeouts (551). At the national level, Barber’s staff finished third in opponents’ batting average and ninth in earned run average, meanwhile leading the nation in strikeouts at the end of the league tournament.

Under Barber’s direction, the Trojan pitching staff put forth another solid effort in 2022, leading the Crossroads League in strikeouts (466) and strikeouts-per-nine-innings (9.09), while landing within the nation’s top-25 in total team strikeouts. Barber also helped shape two Trojan pitchers, who between the two of them led the league in strikeouts, wins, and earned-run average, one of whom was dubbed the Crossroads League Pitcher of the Year.

In Taylor’s historic 2023 season in which it won two NAIA World Series games, Barber’s pitching staff had a Crossroads League-high five pitchers win five or more games. Additionally, TU pitchers finished the season with the lowest ERA (4.96) of any CL team.

2024 saw another one Barber’s pitchers earn Crossroads League Pitcher of the Year honors, and a hurler who led the conference in opposing batting average. As a whole, the pitching staff punched out 480 batters, good for the 14th-best mark in the NAIA.

Prior to joining TU, Barber helped run the Indiana Chargers, one of the top travel programs in the Midwest based out of Goshen, Indiana. During his eight years with the Chargers, Barber played a key role in the development of the athletes, helping over 90 individuals reach the collegiate level, including Taylor graduates Matt Patton and Tanner Watson. During his tenure with the team, Barber also worked with four pitchers who made it to the professional ranks, including three Major League draft picks.

Barber began his coaching career at Lincoln High, where he was the varsity head coach for two seasons, while also working as the pitching and hitting instructor at Great Lakes Baseball Academy from 2011 to 2013.

Barber earned a communication degree with a focus in broadcasting from Spring Arbor in 2011. While at Spring Arbor, Barber pitched for the Cougars and garnered SAU Sophomore Male Athlete-of-the-Year recognition in 2009.

Barber and his wife, Jenna, have two daughters, Avery and Aria, and a son, Max. The Barber family currently resides in Fort Wayne.