Keiser University Athletics

Pre-Keiser

Prior to joining Keiser University, Joe Barber served as Head Coach at Georgia Southwestern State University, where he made an immediate impact on the program during the 2025 season. He guided the Hurricanes to a fifth-place finish in the Peach Belt Conference and coached the program’s first-ever PBC Golden Ball winner in Cesar Rubio-Amaya, who scored 10 goals. Barber also led Georgia Southwestern to its first-ever two First Team All-Conference selections in a single season and an undefeated 5-0-0 spring campaign, highlighted by a 2-0 road victory over NCAA Division I opponent Mercer University.

Before his time at Georgia Southwestern, Barber was the Associate Head Coach at Gardner-Webb University from 2023 to 2025. During his tenure, he played a key role in one of the most successful seasons in program history, helping the Runnin’ Bulldogs capture their first Big South Conference Championship in 2024. The team finished second in the regular season with a 13-4-3 overall record, including an unbeaten 6-0-3 mark at home, and earned an NCAA Tournament berth with a first-round victory over Oregon State. Gardner-Webb also recorded notable wins over Wake Forest, No. 11 High Point, UAB, and Coastal Carolina.

Barber began his head coaching career at Milligan University in 2022, where he was named Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Coach of the Year. He led the program to a 10-3-7 overall record, an AAC Regular Season Championship, and a berth in the national tournament.