Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta reiterates support for Coach Todd Lickliter

Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta reiterated his support for Iowa men's basketball coach Todd Lickliter when speaking to the university's Presidential Committee on Athletics on Thursday.

"They are showing improvement in each game," Barta said to the committee, which included University of Iowa President Sally Mason. "I would just say this, none of us like losing. Our student-athletes don't enjoy losing. I don't enjoy losing. our fans don't enjoy losing. But let me share with you the person who enjoys losing the least is Coach Lickliter."

Iowa is 2-5 overall and lost 36 games the last two seasons, the most over a two-year period in school history. Iowa has only one senior (Devan Bawinkel) and one junior (Jarryd Cole) who have played this year, a point Barta referenced when talking about the team's youth.

"I love the way he's building the foundation," Barta said. "The approach. I want it to happen as fast as possible. We just need to get better every day."