Beginning his third season with the ODU basketball program, Lamar Barrett has been instrumental in turning around a team that won five games during the 2012-13 year. Since he arrived at ODU, the Monarchs have posted 45 wins in two seasons, including a 27-8 record in 2014- 15. After finishing second in Conference USA, ODU stormed into the NIT Semifinals at Madison Square Garden after securing victories over Charleston Southern, Illinois State and Murray State. Barrett has also been a crucial asset to head coach Jeff Jones, who secured his 400th collegiate coaching victory against Charleston Southern.
Since Barrett joined the Monarch staff, he has helped guide the program to 24 consecutive wins at the Ted Constant Center, a streak that currently ranks seventh in NCAA Division I Basketball. He has also helped Trey Freeman attain several notable accolades, including C-USA Newcomer of the Year, All-League honors and C-USA All- Academic Team selection.
Prior to coming to ODU, Barrett spent three years as an assistant on Jones’ staff at American. He spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Brown University before joining the American staff, coaching three All-Ivy League selections and was primarily responsible for recruiting. At AU, Barrett served in multiple roles including skill development, recruiting and game-planning, coaching three All-Patriot League selections.
Prior to coaching at Brown, Barrett worked for the Hoop Group Elite where he served as director from 2006-2008. Hoop Group Elite is the nation’s largest high school exposure camp and assists the top academic high school basketball players in the country showcase their abilities in the recruiting process. Barrett also served as an assistant coach at the University of New Haven from 2005-2006 and Central Connecticut State University from 2003-2005. Barrett also served as an assistant coach at two-time state champion Oxon Hill High School (Md.) from 1997-2003.
Barrett graduated from Elizabeth City State University in 1994 with a B.S. in business administration, and was a two-year captain for the Vikings. Lamar and fellow ODU assistant John Richardson were teammates at Elizabeth City State University.
A native of Franklin, Va., he played for Franklin High School. Barrett was the co-founder/head coach of Prince George’s County Select AAU Team from 1999-2003. During that time he also served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Oxon Hill County Select AAU team. Barrett is married to the former Cassandra Woodhouse.
“Lamar has done a tremendous job. His experiences are varied and I think he is a great mentor for the student athletes on our team and a tremendous ambassador for Old Dominion University basketball. His diverse experiences include contacts in a wide range of geographic areas, but especially in the Washington, D.C. area where in addition to working at AU, Lamar worked as a high school coach for a number of years. Lamar is an extremely positive person who brings a lot of positive energy to the job and has an excellent rapport with the young men on the basketball team.” - Jeff Jones