Barry began swimming at the age of nine for his local community swim club, The Mountain View Crawdads, then jumped immediately into winter swimming that same year for the West Shore Y.M.C.A. in Harrisburg, PA. While swimming for the West Shore Y.M.C.A., Barry became one of the states fastest butterfly and freestyle swimmers. Highlights of his age group career include several state records in the 50, 100 & 200 free, and 100 fly, undefeated state champion in the 200 freestyle from 1975 through 1981, and a National Y.M.C.A. record in the 11-12 year old 200 yard freestyle.

Barry was elected team captain of his Y.M.C.A. and his high school team in his junior and senior years and was the first swimmer from his high school to place in finals at the State Championships at the Pennsylvania State University where he later attended college on scholarship. While at Penn State, he received "Outstanding Swimmer" awards in his freshman and junior year and "High Point Scorer" in his first 3 years and runner-up in his senior year. While at Penn State, Barry held 8 of 13 team records and was a member of all 3 record setting relays. During his senior year at Penn State along with his brother Bill, who was then a freshman, the Penn State team reached their goal to become the Eastern Intercollegiate Conference Champions.

Barry began his coaching career with the Mountain View Crawdads while in college. After graduating Barry moved to the D.C. area where he worked as a Landscape Architect, and joined a local masters team at Chinquapin Rec. in Alexandria. After 5 years he left his job and started school at the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, D.C. As a full time "starving" art student, Barry began coaching in the PVS league. Between 1990 & 1993 he coached for several area teams. Upon graduation from the Corcoran School of Art in 1994, the Potomac Marlins were officially formed.

Coach Barry is the Potomac Marlins Team Manager and is responsible for team and business operations including, pool contract administration, advertising and promotion, team equipment design and procurement, billing, practice and meet scheduling, Web site design and maint., and day to day team communications and operations. Coach Barry teaches the Friday evening Spring Stroke Workshops and functions as the teams primary substitute when needed. Barry is also the Co-Coach at Chinquapin for the Age Group Select, Sr. Prep and Senior programs.

Coach Barry and his wife, Alex, live in Arlington VA with their sons Kaden, Devon and Logan.