Keith currently works for League One Volleyball on the recruiting and operations sides of the Pro League. Having successfully contracted ~100 athletes and assisted in running 60+ matches across the country in Season One, the Pro League kicked off Season two starting November 1,2025.
With 9 years and Air Force’s most successful seasons ever at the Division I level, Keith left a lasting legacy at the Academy, including 52 of its 80 Mountain West victories and more than half of its overall DI wins. In his final season at Air Force, the team set the conference record with 9 wins, the highest ever RPI at 124, and matched the best seasons in school history with an overall record of 17-12. The 2023 team was the only team in Air Force history to beat a top 25 ranked opponent, Utah State, handing them their only regular season conference loss.
While Barnett is the Falcons’ winningest DI coach in conference action, he also led Air Force to a Power 5 win over Iowa (2021), and collected victories over four NCAA Tournament teams over the years. Against the Falcons’ longtime conference foes, he led the Falcons to their only ever victory (1-55) over Colorado State in 2020 and ended a 13-match skid to Wyoming in 2021. Barnett also coached Air Force to its first-ever win in Laramie (2022) and its first road victory over New Mexico since 2003.
Prior to the Academy he spent two seasons as an assistant coach at West Texas A&M University. During his two years on the bench in Canyon, the Lady Buffs compiled a 67-9 record, posted back-to-back 16-0 conference seasons and made a pair of trips to the NCAA Division II Volleyball tournament, including a national semifinal appearance in 2013, losing in 5 sets to runner-up BYU Hawaii.
Barnett also spent four years as the head coach at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs. While at UCCS, Barnett went 67-46 and was the second-winningest coach in program history. He was the fastest coach in school history to win 50 matches and led the Mountain Lions to at least 16 victories in all four seasons. The 10 home wins in 2011 were the second-most in school history and the 18 total victories tied for fifth in UCCS records.
Before his time at UCCS, Barnett spent two years as the head coach at Rampart High School in Colorado Springs. He led the Rams to a third-place finish in the Colorado Class 5A State Tournament in 2008, after a Sweet 16 season in 2007.
Barnett also brought a wealth of playing experience to Air Force, he was the 1996 Illinois high school Player of the Year, a 1st Team All-American at the boy’s junior national championships, and then a three-position starter at Pepperdine University. A second-team All-American setter in 2001, Barnett went on to earn a gold medal at the World University Games in Beijing later that year. In addition, he had two stints as a member of the U.S. National Team, serving as both an outside hitter (2001-02) and setter (2005-06).
Barnett’s playing career not only encompassed his time at Pepperdine and with the U.S. National Team, but in overseas action as well. He played professionally in Belgium for three seasons, with stops in St. Vith, Halen and Lennik. He also spent seasons in Spain and Romania.
Barnett and his wife, Jessica, are the parents of three girls – Brooklyn, Elyse and Harper.
