Spring Arbor Men’s Basketball adds Luke Barber to Coaching Staff

(October 23, 2020 5:52 PM) Spring Arbor University head men’s basketball coach Ryan Cottingham welcomed alumnus Luke Barber (Canton, MI / Inter-City Baptist) to his staff as an assistant coach. Barber will help lead player development and help implement the team’s defensive system.

A Canton, Michigan native, Barber played for the Cougars from 2015-2020. He played in 128 games and scored nearly 1,000 points, finishing his career with 946.

Barber enjoyed a career-year during the 2018-19 campaign, helping lead Spring Arbor to its first-ever national title. The Cougars’ sharp-shooter emerged as one of the nation’s top deep threats in his first year in a starting role. He made a career-high 102 shots from behind the arc, which led the Crossroads League and ranked 12th in the NAIA, while shooting at a remarkable .459 clip.

“Luke has transitioned well from playing to coaching,” said Cottingham. “He is a winner with positive energy and a desire to serve. Luke’s understanding of the nuances of the modern game combined with his skill development training has really helped our guys improve. Luke is a great addition to our staff.”

A business administration major, Barber earned his bachelor’s degree from SAU. He was a three-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete award recipient and, in 2020, was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Honors Court.