Marty Barnes graduated from Highland High School in 1968. He then attended John Brown University and graduated in 1972 and later received a graduate degree from Arkansas Tech University. Marty coached basketball. Lots of basketball! For over forty years, 31 as a head coach, at Rogers High School and Russellville High School, where he took both high schools to the Arkansas State Championships. He also spent 12 seasons as head coach at Arkansas Tech University and won four Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference Championships. Barnes coached 910 games as head coach and had 605 victories. Marty has also won an impressive collection of personal awards, including Arkansas Coach of the Year six times, the Northeast Arkansas Charlie Spoonhour Lifetime Achievement Award and at Arkansas Tech University, he was the Arkansas Intercollegiate Coach of the Year four times.