Northwood has hired former St. Margaret’s and Long Beach Poly coach Stephen Barbee as its football head coach, Northwood announced Wednesday.
Barbee, 51, coached at St. Margaret’s for eight seasons (2010-17) and then at Long Beach Poly for seven seasons (2018-24). He led both teams to CIF-SS championships.
He coached Poly to the Division 4 championship in 2021. The Jackrabbits went 57-20 during Barbee’s seven seasons. He coached St. Margaret’s to a CIF-SS championship in 2014.
Barbee spent the 2025 football season as an assistant coach at Northwood under then-head coach Erik Terry, who resigned at the end of the season. It was Terry’s only season as Timberwolves head coach.
Barbee has a son, who is a freshman, in the Northwood football program.
“When Terry stepped down, I essentially applied for the job right away,” Barbee said.
Terry said he pursued Barbee as his replacement.
“As the season was winding down, I told (Barbee), ‘Hey, I’m thinking about resigning and I’d like you to take the job,’” Terry said.
Northwood finished 4-6 overall and 1-4 in the Foxtrot League in 2025.
