It is always exciting to learn about someone’s colorful and fascinating past. Professional Coach Operator Nathan Barnes is six feet and seven inches tall, so it isn’t a big surprise that he played basketball. Barnes is a former University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Men’s Basketball player. He was voted “Most Popular Person on Campus” during this college career and was inducted into the Phoenix Hall of Fame in 2002-2003.
After college, he played professional basketball as power forward/center in Europe for 3 years. He played for the Luxembourg Spartas. There his team won 2 championships and won the Luxembourg Cup, which hadn’t happened for the Spartas in 12 years. In 1983, he averaged 26 points and 17 rebounds a game. Besides being paid to play a sport he loves, he also met his wife while in Europe.
“She is French; one of my friends knew how to speak German and English. She also spoke German and he would translate for us,” stated Barnes. “Europe was an awesome experience. I traveled a lot to Greece, France, and Belgium,” he added.
While in Europe Barnes injured his back and no longer plays basketball. He lived couple places in the U.S. before settling in Indianapolis. Currently he serves as a Minister at Free Will Christian Ministries and wrote a book, Have Faith In God: And the Power Within You.
Barnes explains he became a Professional Coach Operator after seeing a couple drivers around town enjoying their jobs. “I love working for IndyGo because of my interactions with co-workers as well as the interactions with the passengers,” stated Barnes. He has been driving IndyGo buses for 2 years and you can see him on routes 15, 38, and the 31 on Saturdays.
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