Alabama hires Henry Barrera as strength and conditioning coach

Head coach Nate Oats of the Alabama men's basketball program announced Tuesday the hiring of Henry Barrera as the team's strength and conditioning coach. Before joining the Alabama men's basketball team, Barrera spent seven years as the strength and conditioning coach for Liberty University. He was also the director of performance for Olympic sports in Virginia.

Oats said he was excited to have Barrera and his family join the program.

"I've known Henry for a long time, and we've remained in close contact for more than a decade. When it comes to basketball-specific strength and conditioning training, Henry consistently remains on the cutting edge," Oats said.

Coach Oats also said that Barrera brought a passion for continuous growth and success, saying the new coach "is willing to do whatever it takes" to help the team succeed.

"He has a built-in mindset of continuous growth in that regard, and the results speak for themselves. Henry is also a man of high character and is willing to do anything it takes to help the program be successful. He is a natural fit with our players, and we couldn't be more excited to welcome him to Tuscaloosa," Oats praised his new strength and conditioning coach.

Barrera's achievements at Liberty

Ritchie McKay hired Barrera in 2015 to be the strength and conditioning coach of the Liberty men's basketball team. Under his leadership, the program established an impressive record over the next seven seasons. During that time, the team won 166 games and claimed three consecutive ASUN tournament championships. He ultimately helped the team, reach a .722 winning percentage.

The Liberty basketball program made five appearances in the NCAA Tournament during his time with the program. One of the highlights of his career with the team was the 2019-20 season when it established a school-record 30 victories. The team also secured its first-ever NCAA Tournament win during that season.

Barrera said that he was excited to join the Alabama basketball program and its tradition in a statement. He also thanked the athletic department and the team for allowing him to work with them.

“I am really excited to join coach Oats and the Alabama family,” Barrera said. “The history and tradition of Alabama athletics and within the men’s basketball program is powerful. My family and I are very grateful for this opportunity. We are ready to get to work. Roll Tide!”

Barrera's previous work

Barrera held the strength and conditioning coach position for the Liberty basketball team for three years. He then became the director of the Olympic sports' strength and conditioning department.

During his time with the Liberty basketball program, the 36-year-old coach guided the team to multiple 20-plus win seasons. The Flames also made five appearances in the NCAA Tournament during his time with the program.

Before becoming the strength and conditioning coach for the Liberty basketball team, the 6-foot coach worked at Nike's World Headquarters in Oregon. During his time at Nike, he developed training content for various projects, including Jordan Brand's Terminal 23 and The Hangar in Los Angeles.