Amazing Alumnus Kevin Barnette ’85

photo by Paul Moon

Coach Kevin Barnette ’85 makes History in Madison County, N.C.

When Kevin Barnette was elected in November as a member of the Madison County Board of Education, he considered it simply a continuation of a position to which he had been appointed two years before. It was, further, a continuation of his life long effort to serve the people of his hometown and county. What he did not consider was the historic nature of the event. Barnette’s election marked the first time that an African American person had been elected to a public office in Madison County, N.C. “Never entered my mind,” he said. Superintendent of Schools Will Hoffman said it seemed an obvious choice when he called Barnette two years earlier to suggest that he fulfill the term of Craig Goforth (who was moving to the board of commissioners). “When Dr. Craig Goforth decided to run for County Commissioner after many years of service on the school board, we knew that we needed someone who understood the institutional history of Madison County Schools, someone with a strong vision for where we need to be going,” Hoffman said. “As someone who grew up in Madison County, attended Madison County Schools, developed enduring, long lasting friendships in Madison County and the region, Kevin Barnette is someone, I strongly believe, who sees himself reflected in the 2200 students across our school system.” Barnette said he was deeply honored by the request, but his primary concern was the time involved.

“I’m involved in a lot of different things,” he said. “and one of the struggles that I have is just making sure that I spend the right amount of time with my family. At the time, I just couldn’t imagine how I would be able to work the board of education duties into my football schedule. And I do a little bit of volunteering.” Barnette has been a member of the Lions Football coaching staff for 33 years, and now serves as the

assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for the team. Even during a pandemic, the duties of coaching and recruiting are extensive and time consuming. In addition, Barnette does “a little bit of volunteering” in the community. He serves on the Mars Hill Housing Authority Board, and he and his wife, Recy, lead a small group for couples through Brookstone Church. Barnette, an ordained minister, also preaches and leads worship services on some Sundays at one of the rescue missions in Asheville. So, clearly, family time is a real issue for the Barnettes and their three children: Elisha, a freshman at MHU; Nehemiah, a senior at Madison High School; and Anna, an eighth grader at Madison Middle School.

Ultimately, Barnette accepted. “I decided to go ahead and do it. And man, it’s just been nothing but open doors. And the people that I’m working with, they’re exceptional people, from the superintendent all the way down. It’s just been amazing.” According to Hoffman, the relationship has been a good one on both sides. “Kevin Barnette has been a tremendous asset to Madison County Schools, and we are fortunate that he is serving for another four-year term,” he said. “He has always been a role model. His words draw people to attention and that respect comes from the fact that he is deeply, deeply honest, he understands relationships, and, above all, coupled with a strong intellect, he is a kind person.” Barnette’s relationship with the school system began in kindergarten. Despite being one of very few black students in the system, he said he had a relatively positive experience. (His five older brothers, he said, had a much more difficult time because they transitioned into the school system when they were older.) “There were moments of being uncomfortable, but not a lot. Mainly because I grew up with everybody that I went to school with, from kindergarten up,” he said. “It wasn’t like I moved into a new situation, but I grew up from kindergarten on with the same group of people, and they treated me just like I treated them.” Barnette excelled in football, basketball, and baseball during his time at Mars Hill Elementary School and Madison High School. He said many people in the county got to know him through sports, through church associations, and later, as a school system parent, and as a coach at MHU.

Right: Coach Barnette at work as defensive coordinator of the MHU Lions Football team.

Upper Left: Barnette takes the oath of office as a Madison County Board of Education Member in December 2020. continued ...

Barnette, continued

He finished high school with encouragement from “I was just always angry to be honest with you,” he his teachers, his parents, and his grandmother, who said. “It’s very hurtful. You wouldn’t think that it famously impacted education in Madison County would have that kind of power, but it does.” He said. by lobbying the State Superintendent of Schools for “And I still struggle with anger sometimes. With just busing for rural children. Her letter is credited with this idea of how blind people can be sometimes, allowing not just her children, but numerous rural that we have not moved in a progressive way in children in Madison County, to have transportation reference to racism. And at times it looks like we’ve to high school. actually moved backwards.” “From my grandmother to just countless other After those two years at Wingate, Barnette came people, I’ve been surrounded by a lot of great to Mars Hill University as defensive coordinator on people. It’s amazing to me when I think about it, the Lions coaching staff, and that’s where he’s been, that everywhere I’ve gone, everywhere I’ve turned, career-wise, ever since. I’ve had great people who have been leading me Tim Clifton, head coach of the Lions football team, and helping me and pushing me. And I just think it’s has coached with Barnette for 28 of his 33 years at the hand of God,” he said. MHU, and calls it a privilege. After high school, Barnette “Kevin’s a really, really good came to Mars Hill College, football coach, but he’s an where he was a standout even better man,” he said. on the Lions football team. “Kevin has great knowledge During his college career, he of the game. He does a great was twice named to the All- job teaching his players how South Atlantic Conference to play the game. But he also team and was selected as a teaches them how to be men. second team All-American He is a positive influence on by the NAIA in 1984. He was our players. They can come twice named All-District. to him to get stable advice for In 1998, he was admitted The Barnette family: (l-r) Nehemiah, Anna, Elisha, football and for life. And he to the Lions Hall of Fame. Recy, and Kevin. also can give them spiritual and at the time, he held direction.” the school record for the most interceptions in a Barnette’s position as a school board member and season [8] and the most interceptions in a game [3]. a parent has given him the opportunity to speak (Barnette is still tied for the game record.) about racism and the role it still plays in our culture. He says, with characteristic humility, “I was a pretty He also hopes that the fact that he is a school board decent player.” member will have a positive effect on perceptions He majored in physical education, with the of black people in the county. intention of teaching and coaching. After When Barnette contemplates the legacy he graduation from MHU, Barnette spent one year as hopes to leave behind, he said he hopes to have a teacher and coach at Asheville Junior High, and a positive influence, not just in MHU football, not then became an assistant football coach at Wingate just in Madison County education, not just in race University. He coached during the academic year, relations, but in pointing to the ultimate purpose of and over the course of two summers, went to his life. And as always, he is humble. Daphne, Alabama, where he obtained his master’s “I guess the main thing would be that people would degree at the United States Sports Academy. have forgotten who I was and they saw more of It was in Alabama where Barnette said he came who Jesus is.” face-to-face with the worst racism of his life.