Trey Barrow will have some pretty reliable influences to help frame his first head coaching job.
The 28-year-old Barrow - a 2008 Moberly graduate and a former kicker and punter at the University of Missouri - has been named the Fulton Hornets' new head football coach. Barrow's hiring became official when his contract was approved by the Fulton 58 Board of Education during its regular meeting Wednesday night.
Barrow - who has spent the past two years as an assistant coach at Class 5 Waynesville - accepted the Fulton position April 27. He replaces Blake Logan, who resigned in April after just one season with the Hornets.
"I thought it (Fulton job) would be great because historically they've had pretty good talent and I knew I was ready to have my own program," Barrow said during a May 2 interview at the high school after an introductory meeting with returning players. "I'm just really excited to come here and be a part of this program, and try to continue building it and have great things happen in the future."
Barrow was special teams coordinator and also coached wide receivers and running backs during his two years under head coach Brad Drehle at Waynesville. The Tigers averaged 28 points a game last season running a spread offense - featuring run-pass options - that Barrow helped Drehle install.
Drehle spent nine years at Blair Oaks before leaving for Waynesville in 2015. Drehle directed Blair Oaks to the Class 2 state championship in 2006 and runner-up finishes in 2007 and 2015.
Barrow's high school playing career was under the direction of head coach Jason Ambrosen in Moberly. Ambrosen sparked a turnaround in his 14 years with the Spartans, before departing for Class 4 Smithville in 2015.
"What I really liked with Coach Ambro, he really preached and harped on doing the little things right - whether that be drinking a glass of water instead of soda at dinner, or going to bed or watching YouTube on your phone for half an hour," Barrow said. "The little things add up.
"That's how truly great people and individuals become champions and reach that next level, reach your goals."
Barrow then moved on to play at the collegiate level for head coach Gary Pinkel at Mizzou. Pinkel became the Tigers' winningest coach in school history before retiring in 2015 after 15 seasons.
Barrow handled kickoff duties for three years at Mizzou, punted for two seasons and was the Tigers' placekicker for a year. He was a second-team all-Big 12 selection in 2011.
"(Coach Pinkel) was the face of the program and he taught discipline in everything that you do, similar to Coach Ambro, but more about doing it on your own and becoming a man, I guess," Barrow said. "Live with your choices - you can choose to do what you want, but if you make the wrong choice, you're not going to start on Saturday, that you've lived your whole life for.
"He was a great coach, to me, in that way. He taught players kind of how to grow up and how to handle yourself."
Barrow noted that he will also utilize the master's degree in educational psychology - with an emphasis in sports - that he earned at Mizzou to aid him in guiding the Hornets.
"That really helped me see the game from another vantage point - the mental side of football," Barrow said. " I'm just excited to bring that here. I just like it because I feel like you get the most out of kids - at the same time, you're helping them, you're not yelling at them and degrading them.
"You're making them want to be better and making them want to do it for themselves, which I think is the ultimate goal."
Barrow stressed that he will set a lofty standard at Fulton, both on and off the field.
"I always have high expectations for my players," Barrow said. "I don't think that you truly evaluate what kind of a job you've done by wins and losses, but by what kind of young men that they are."
The Hornets find themselves in need of stability, with Barrow becoming their third head coach in as many seasons. Pat Kelley retired in 2016 after 20 years and was replaced by Logan, who was just 3-7 overall and 2-4 in the North Central Missouri Conference in his only season in Fulton.
"I'm very happy here and I could see myself being here for a long time," Barrow said. "I'm from the area and it's my hometown conference, so I don't have any plans on going anywhere."