Dream Fulfilled as Tom Barber Takes Alleman Football Coaching Post

By Tom Johnson, The Dispatch-Rock Island Argus, June 17, 2025

On one hand, Tom Barber had a very difficult decision to make. On the other hand, the decision to become head football coach at Alleman Catholic High School was fairly simple as it allows him to follow the dream of leading his own program.

“I’ve always wanted to be a head coach,” said Barber on Tuesday afternoon after his introduction as the new leader of the Pioneers’ program. But that meant leaving the Riverdale High School program that he had spent the last 10 years in. It also meant parting ways with Guy Dierikx Jr., with whom he had coached at both Riverdale and Davenport North.

“I’m going to go talk to the Riverdale kids tomorrow and let them know what’s going on,” said Barber.

“I wish them the best of luck because they have been together for the last two or three years and they’re going to be really good. That’s the tough decision to leave.

“But I couldn’t pass up on this opportunity and couldn’t be more excited.”

Hiring Barber to take over was an easy one for Alleman athletic director Mark VanNatta and the Alleman administration. “He understands what we’re going through,” said VanNatta, noting he talked to nearly a dozen applicants regarding the position.

“That should make the transition a little easier.”

Barber, a Davenport Assumption High School and Wartburg College graduate, jumps into an unusual situation at Alleman. The Pioneers have not fielded a varsity football team for two years now and are set to jump back into a full varsity and freshman schedule this fall. Barber says that junior-varsity games are also scheduled for Mondays.

It is a similar situation that Riverdale was in back in 2022 when it also battled the numbers game and dropped varsity football for a year.

“Having been through the same situation at Riverdale back in 2022 and been able to help navigate that with Guy, I think helped prepare me for this,” said Barber. “Knowing the situation that they were in, knowing the low numbers, and knowing that they have all the young kids.”

Barber wasn’t intimidated by Alleman’s continuing rebuild that includes roughly 45-60 kids in the program.

“Seeing that this position opened up was a great opportunity,” said the 38-year-old Barber, who works full-time on Arsenal Island.

Barber admitted that he doesn’t think his June hire has created an issue with the Pioneers getting behind in their summer work, thanking assistants for getting kids in the weight room. He said that five or six assistants remain on staff and that he will fill out the coaching roster of nine as soon as possible.

The kids are also thankful to have a coach in place so things can move forward. Some of them met Barber Tuesday morning as they finished a workout session.

“It’s been kind of crazy not knowing what is going to happen,” said junior Jack Wendt of the ups and downs in the program the last few years. “I’m excited that we have a coach and we start doing our summer stuff and work toward the regular season.” Barber, who will also serve as offensive coordinator and run a double-wing offense that will rely on a strong offensive line, admitted that the rebuild could continue for a bit. Still, he will hold his players to lofty expectations as they learn and grow with each other whether that equates to good outcomes on the scoreboard or not.

“We want to compete every game,” said Barber, “and we want every team to know that we’re giving them our best.”