He served as the head football coach at Nicholls State University team from 1995 to 1998, compiling a record of 17–28. The 1996 turnaround came one season after the Nicholls State Colonels finished 0–11 and last place in the Southland Conference.
Not to be confused with Darren Barber, a Canadian competition rower and Olympic champion. Barbier was given the Eddie Robinson Award in 1996 as the top coach in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I-Associate of Arts football when he guided the Colonels to an 8–4 record and a berth in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I-Associate of Arts playoffs, where his team lost their first round game.
