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Kevin Barnette Turns Life's Twists To His Advantage
By DP Peterson
Kevin Barnette. Photo courtesy sports.mhc.edu. |
Kevin Barnette is known as a coach, friend and mentor, but he is mostly known for an amazing story of how he overcame a heart condition through his faith and belief in God.
Barnette now shares his story with thousands of student athletes that participate in FCA camps.
The son of Herbert and Flora Barnette, Kevin was born the youngest of six boys in Madison County.
“My brothers had a big influence on me growing up. I learned a lot from them including how to be tough,” Barnette said.
Barnette’s parents basically raised him in the church during his childhood.
“My parents were strong believers in Christ, and they instilled Christian values in me as well,” he said.
As Barnette got older, Woody Ammons became an inspirational person in his life. Ammons was Barnettes football and basketball coach in his years in middle school at Madison Middle School.
“Coach Ammons asked a lot of you academically and physically. He was a firm believer in pushing yourself on the field and in the classroom. My coaching style is similar to his,” he said.
Barnette continued to hold on to Ammons’ beliefs through high school and received a scholarship to Mars Hill College to play defensive back in 1981.
At Mars Hill, Barnette received many honors, such as All-Conference, All-District, 2nd team All-American, and All-Academic. Both the All-Conference and All-District honors he received twice.
Barnette also set many records here at Mars Hill. Some of those were most interceptions in a season (8) and the most interceptions in a game (3). These records still stand.
After graduating with a master’s degree in sports medicine from the United States Sports Academy, Barnette taught P.E. at Asheville Jr. High. In 1986, he became a coach at Wingate University just as its football program began.
The following year he coached and taught at Forrest High until February 1986 when he took a job as a coach at his alma mater. He was hired to be the Defensive back coach for the college’s football team.
After coaching at Mars Hill for a couple of years, Barnette became ill. On November 18, 1997, the doctors diagnosed Barnette with a bacterial infection that scarred the muscle tissue in his heart which caused his heart to enlarge.
The infection also caused his heart rate to increase to record numbers. During this time, Barnette had undergone seven surgeries including two to insert a difibulator and pacemaker.
“Faith got me through this unfortunate time of my life. It gave me direction, peace and hope. Even now my faith gives me peace,” he said.
Shortly after, Barnette’s heart went back to normal size and he was released from the hospital. Barnette believed that the heart condition was simply a “wake-up call” from God. He also believed that acknowledging God was the most important moment in his life. These days, Barnette is a husband, father, coach and role model for local students as well as others he has come in contact with over the years.
He has a welcoming spirit and encourages all to talk to him about any situation they’re currently facing. Barnette also heads the FCA group on campus.
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