Barry Gallup - Head Coach
First year at NU: 1991
Alma Mater: Boston College '69
With head coach Barry Gallup leading the way, Northeastern football is surging.
Last year's senior class was the most successful in school history, reflecting a four-year period in which the Huskies have progressed from league lightweights to championship contenders. NU has 19 wins since 1996 - the most ever at NU during a three-season stretch - and the Huskies have become regulars in the national polls. The next step will be the school's first-ever IAA playoff bid, a Gallup goal that is clearly within reach.
Every coach enters a new job with big dreams and a plan to accomplish them, but rarely does reality match the agenda. Not so in Gallup's case. Since his arrival at Northeastern in 1991, he has steadily accomplished his mission to build the Huskies into a contender, a consistent winner. The success is a derivative of Gallup's hard work, efforts that earned him New England Coach of the Year honors for the first time in 1997.
In his first eight years on Huntington Avenue, Gallup has been a major force behind several giant strides in the history of Northeastern athletics and its football program.
First came the abandoning of the wishbone in favor of an aggressive parlay of pass and run, then came an invitation to join the prestigious Yankee Conference (now Atlantic 10) in 1993, then a major renovation of the facilities at Parsons Field. Before returning strictly to coaching last year, Gallup had an eventful four-year tenure as NU's athletics director in which the department successfully earned NCAA certification, initiated a comprehensive strategic plan to achieve gender equity, and added several prominent coaches, including highly-respected hockey boss Bruce Crowder.
Gallup's true professional love is his coaching and he has dedicated a large part of his life to college football in Boston. He entered Boston College in 1965 and would become the greatest receiver in the school's history before graduating in 1969 and embarking on a 20-year coaching career with the Eagles.
As an assistant first to Joe Yukica then to Ed Chlebek, and finally to Jack Bicknell, Gallup established himself as a top recruiter and football strategist. It was Gallup who was attracting some of the nation's most talented players to campus, including Heisman Trophy winner and current Buffalo Bill Doug Flutie, and it was Gallup who Northeastern wanted when it went looking for a dynamic leader eight years ago.
The recruiting success has continued with the Huskies as Gallup steadily has brought in quality classes of student-athletes, and his goal of elevating Husky football to the upper echelon of Division IAA is now complete. Thanks largely to Gallup's guidance and initiative, the program has attained the facilities, the conference and the foundation of players necessary to do it.
Before NU: Upon college graduation, turned down offer to play with Boston Patriots and began career in teaching and coaching...worked in Swampscott school district...became part-time assistant coach at his alma mater in 1970 and full-time assistant in 1973 coaching team's defensive line...role changed to receivers coach and head recruiting coordinator when Jack Bicknell arrived as head coach in 1981...instructed several future professional players while directing the receiving corps, including Brian Brennan (Cleveland Browns), Mark Chmura (Green Bay Packers), Kelvin Martin (Dallas Cowboys), Pete Mitchell (Jacksonville Jaguars), Tom Waddle (Chicago Bears) and the brothers Flutie, Doug and Darren, who both went on to Canadian Football League fame...as primary recruiter was main builder of bowl-bound BC teams in 1982 (Tangerine Bowl), '83 (Liberty), '85 (Cotton) and '86 (Hall of Fame).
Playing Career: Two-sport star at Boston College, Class of '69...in football career from 1965-68, set school marks for receptions (87) and receiving yards (1325); Mel Briggs eclipsed both of the records in 1973...had 735 yards and established season record for catches (46) as a senior; mark eventually broken by Gallup protege Brian Brennan in 1983...played two years of college basketball for legendary former Boston Celtic Bob Cousy...starred on football field at Swampscott High for legendary coach Stan Bondelevitch, earning All-America honors as a senior...two-year captain of the basketball squad...also captained baseball team as a senior... prepped for a year at Deerfield Academy.
Personal: Born Aug. 15, 1946...middle name Charles... holds bachelor of science degree in Marketing from Boston College...inducted into BC Hall of Fame in 1983... named 1997 Gridiron Club Coach of the Year...earned Distinguished Service Award from the Massachusetts High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 1995...resides in Wellesley with wife Victoria and children Lisa Ann, 13; Darren Douglas, 14; and Barry Charles, Jr., 11.
Gallup year-by-year Year Record 1991 4-7 1992 5-5-1 1993 2-9 1994 2-9 1995 4-7 1996 6-5 1997 8-3 1998 5-6 Total 36-51-1
Gallup's arrival in 1991. His assistants have a history of moving on to excellent
jobs. (* indicates a former NU grad assistant) Coach NU Years Present Team Assignment Mike Borich 1991-95 Chicago Bears Receivers Paul Boudreau* 1997 Brown Receivers Joe Gilbert 1991-93 Maine Offensive Coordinator (Offensive Line) Matt Griffin 1995-96 Tennessee-Martin Offensive Coordinator (Quarterbacks) Peter Hughes 1991-95 Boston College Head Baseball Coach Tom Lamb 1991-94 Norwood High School Athletics Director/Head Football Coach Theo Lemon 1991-92 Wake Forest Defensive Line Doug Marrone 1994 Georgia Tech Offensive Line John Perry* 1993 New Hampshire Receivers Joe Philbin 1995-96 Iowa Offensive Coordinator Darren Rizzi 1998 New Haven Head Football Coach Andy Rondeau* 1991-94 North Dakota State Secondary Bob Shoop 1991-93 Boston College Defensive Backs Jason Swepson 1997-98 Boston College Running Backs Bruce Tall 1993-97 Harvard Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Jim Turner 1994-98 Louisiana Tech Offensive Line
