The New Orleans Pelicans have promoted assistant coach Joe Barrer to head coach of the Birmingham Squadron, the club’s NBA G League affiliate, league sources told HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto on August 20, 2025.
Barrer, 38, has spent nearly a decade working in the G League. He broke in as a video coordinator and assistant coach with the Iowa Wolves—then known as the Iowa Energy—before moving to the Orlando Magic’s affiliate in 2017. After four seasons as an assistant in Lakeland, he was elevated to head coach and led the Lakeland Magic for two campaigns.
The Wisconsin native joined the Pelicans organization in 2022 as an assistant on the Squadron bench and remained in that role for the past two seasons. His promotion follows the departure of former Birmingham head coach T.J. Saint, who left this summer to join Mike Brown’s staff with the New York Knicks.
Barrer now takes charge of a program that has become a key development pipeline for New Orleans, giving him an opportunity to continue molding young talent for the NBA roster.
Source: Hoops Wire
