App State Men’s Basketball has added assistant coach Carson Barrett to the staff ahead of the 2026-27 season, head coach Dustin Kerns announced Friday.
After building a championship resumé as a player and graduate assistant at Purdue, Barrett has earned his first full-time coaching position with the Mountaineers.
“We are thrilled to welcome Carson Barrett to the Mountaineer basketball family,” Kerns said. “When we look to add to our coaching staff, we look for individuals of high character who understand the daily, relentless work it takes to build and sustain a championship culture. Carson fits that mold perfectly. He comes to Boone directly from a culture of elite excellence at Purdue, where he contributed to a program that competed on the sport’s ultimate stage. As both a player and a coach under Matt Painter, Carson has seen firsthand the blueprint for national success.
“He deeply understands the discipline, accountability and preparation required to win at the highest level. His passion for player development, his sharp basketball IQ and his championship pedigree make him an immediate asset to our program. I know his energy and leadership will make a tremendous impact on our players, our staff and the entire App State community.”
Barrett spent the last two seasons as a grad assistant for Purdue, where he was responsible for opponent scouting, film breakdown, helping with individual workouts and administrative duties. He helped the Boilermakers make the Sweet 16 in 2024-25, followed by a Big Ten Championship and Elite 8 run this past season. Purdue’s 30-9 record last year was the second-best in program history.
“I am beyond blessed to have the opportunity to join Coach Kerns and the App State basketball family,” Barrett said. “From the moment I stepped into this program, I knew this was somewhere special. The winning culture within this program, the passion throughout the athletic department and the warmth of the Boone community make this place unlike anything else. Coach Kerns has established a standard of excellence that goes far beyond the basketball court, and I am honored to play a role in that mission. I cannot wait to immerse myself in the App State community, the athletic department family and the incredible town of Boone.”
In his six years as a player and staff member, Barrett was part of six NCAA Tournament appearances, three Big Ten titles, a National Championship game appearance and four trips to the second weekend and beyond. Purdue is the only school to earn a top-four seed in March Madness each of the last six years.
Barrett was part of a senior class that set a then-school record with 110 victories, reached the National Championship game, played in four NCAA Tournaments and won two regular-season and one Big Ten Tournament title.
During his playing career, Barrett appeared in 28 games, scoring 17 points with 16 rebounds and five assists in 57 career minutes.
Barrett’s father, Dave, played at Purdue and was a long-time head coach at Lafayette Central Catholic High School before his brother, Drake, took over as head coach there.
