Shelly Barnes Bio

Bio

Shelly Barnes was named the inaugural Director of Athletics at Forsyth Technical Community College on March 12, 2024, by President Janet Spriggs, marking the official launch of intercollegiate athletics for the institution. As the chief administrator for Trailblazer Athletics, Barnes orchestrates all aspects of program development, facility modernization, fiscal management, brand strategy, and external relations, while championing a department culture centered on student-athlete academic achievement and competitive excellence.

In her initial months on campus, Barnes spearheaded a comprehensive departmental rebrand, secured facility enhancements, and recruited inaugural coaching staffs for men's basketball, women's court volleyball, and Esports. That foundation set the stage for a historic 2025–26 debut season in Forsyth Tech athletics history, where Barnes oversaw immediate regional success both on the court and in the classroom.

Under her direction, the men’s basketball program delivered a dominant 25–5 campaign to capture the NJCAA Region 10 Division II Regular Season Championship, while women’s volleyball surged out of the gate with a 15–8 record in its first year of competition. Demonstrating a clear commitment to academic rigor, both the men’s basketball and women’s volleyball teams earned NJCAA All-Academic Team distinction by maintaining cumulative team GPAs above 3.0.

Prior to her appointment at Forsyth Tech, Barnes spent 12 years as Director of Student Success at Lenoir Community College. Her wide-ranging executive duties encompassed oversight of the athletic department, the Student Government Association, serving as Chair and Instructor for the Physical Education and Health program, and leading the volleyball program as head coach. On the regional level, she served as the NJCAA Region 10 Women’s Assistant Director and sat on the NJCAA DII Women’s Soccer Committee.

Barnes began her career in education and athletics within the Richmond and Scotland County school systems as a Health and Physical Education instructor and head coach across volleyball, track and field, and soccer. She earned multiple Coach of the Year accolades while guiding numerous student-athletes to collegiate opportunities.

"Building an athletic program from scratch is exciting and intense, and I am thrilled to see what we can do at Forsyth Tech," Barnes said. "This community has been incredibly welcoming and supportive, and I believe we have the tools to grow a competitive sports program. Our aim is to recruit student-athletes who are not only skilled in their sport, but also committed to excellence in the classroom. I am thankful to have the support of Dr. Spriggs and the Forsyth Tech community and will strive to make this an extraordinary program."  

A native of Randolph County, Barnes earned a Bachelor of Science in Sports Medicine from High Point University, where she was a student-athlete, and holds a Master’s degree in Health Education from East Carolina University. A 1990 graduate of Randleman High School, she was inducted into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame following a prep career that included multi-event State Championship titles in track and field alongside all-state honors in volleyball, basketball, and track.

Barnes resides in Sophia, N.C., with her husband, David.