Iowa athletic director Gary Barta is stepping down after 17 years

IOWA CITY, Iowa (KWQC) – Iowa Athletic Director Gary Barta has announced his retirement after 17 years at the helm of the Hawkeyes athletic department.

Barta, Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippi, the director of athletics at the University of Iowa, resigned on August 1.

“Gary’s accomplishments at the University of Iowa are remarkable, and our coaches and athletes have enjoyed great success during his tenure on and off the field,” said University of Iowa President Barbara Wilson. “I am grateful for his leadership as a Hawkeye and wish him well in his retirement.

Barta joined the athletics department in 2006 after holding a similar position at the University of Wyoming, according to a news release from the Iowa Athletic Department. Barta has served on numerous NCAA committees over the years, including the NCAA Division I Council for four years. He also served as chairman of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee for three years from 2019-2021, two years and was named the National Association of Collegiate Athletic Directors/Under Armor Athletic Director of the Year in 2015-16.

According to the University of Iowa Athletic Department, an interim athletic director will be announced next week.

According to a press release from the University of Iowa Athletic Department, during Barta’s tenure, the department achieved the following:

• Numerous teams have achieved success on the field, including four NCAA team titles; 27 Big Ten Conference team titles; multiple Big Ten individual titles; about 500 people deserve All-American awards; more than 160 student-athletes have been recognized as the first team of the Big Ten; multiple winners of the national player of the year award; Big Ten Player Recipients; and coach of the year recognition.
• More than 750 Big Ten Conference honorees and for eight consecutive years Iowa has had an average student GPA of 3.0 or higher, an 89% graduation rate and all teams have met or exceeded NCAA standards for Academic Progress.
• More than $380 million in facility improvements and new construction projects, including the north end zone of Kinnick Stadium; Hansen Soccer Performance Center; Gerdin Athletic Training Center; Carver-Hawkeye Arena Howard Family Pavilion; Goshke Family Wrestling Training Center; Nagle Family Club and Hoak Family Golf Complex; Iowa Football Operations Center; P. Sue Beckwith Boathouse; and campus health and recreation center, among others.
• Raised more than $650 million in private support for scholarships, operations, facilities and charities. During Barta’s tenure, the athletics endowment grew from $31.6 million to $76 million, providing numerous student-athlete scholarships in addition to administrative and coaching funds.
• The naming of Duke Slater Field at Kinnick Stadium in 2021 and the creation of a statue of Duke Slater as part of the north end zone renovation.
• Become the first Power Five school to add women’s wrestling in 2021.

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