Frank Barker begins his third season assisting the Texan and Lady Texan cross country and track and field teams. He will work primarily with the distance runners.

His first season with South Plains College proved to be successful as he helped the Lady Texans to a share of the NJCAA Half-Marathon championship in November, 2010.  A week earlier at the NJCAA cross country championships, both squads ran well with the Lady Texans coming up just short of the title with a runner-up finish and the Texans finishing third.  Seven athletes earned All-American honors.

The 2011 cross country season saw Barker help lead the SPC women to yet another share of the NJCAA Half-Marathon crown, thanks to a 1-2 finishing punch from freshman Darroneshia Lott and sophomore Kirsten Taylor.  The women's cross country team also spent time with a No. 1 ranking before finishing fourth at the NJCAA Cross Country Championships in Hobbs, N.M. a week prior to winning the half-marathon.  The cross country championships was highlighted by a sweep of the men's and women's individual titles by Kemoy Campbell and Natoya Goule.

Coach Barker spent 39 years as a coach and teacher at Levelland Independent School District. His career in Levelland began in 1969 as an assistant football coach. He began coaching the cross country team in 1976 where he helped his teams qualify to every regional meet, except 1983, until his retirement.

In 1982 Barker took over as the head track coach for varsity girls.

After his retirement from Levelland after the 2008 school year, Coach Barker signed on to assist the cross country and track teams at Lubbock Christian University. In his two year stint at LCU Barker helped coach five athletes to the NAIA national meet and one became an all-American.