Gary Barta wants ‘some role’ in college sports after retirement as Iowa AD

IOWA CITY — Gary Barta’s Aug. 1 retirement from the University of Iowa might not be the end of his time working in collegiate athletics.

The longtime Iowa athletics director signaled interest in “finding some role" in college sports after he is done at Iowa during a recent podcast appearance.

“I don’t have anything lined up at this point,” Barta said on the athletic department’s Fight for Iowa podcast. “I care so much about college athletics and the change that’s happening there and certainly care about the Big Ten and obviously care deeply about Iowa.”

Barta is looking for an opportunity that is “not 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

“Finding some role where I can try to help in whatever way I can,” Barta said. “To take my 38 years and try to help out — whether it’s name, image and likeness and transfer portal or it’s the Big Ten brand-new commissioner.”

The commissioner, Tony Petitti, is “off to a great start,” Barta added.

Barta’s “criteria” for future gigs includes allowing him to keep Iowa City as his “home base.”

“We have really strong, deep relationships with several families and couples,” Barta said. “So whatever I do, I won’t say never, but I’d prefer I could be based here and then travel to wherever it is that I might be able to get involved.”

Barta, 59, will retire from Iowa after 17 years as the athletics director on Aug. 1 — less than a year before his contract was set to expire.

The longtime Iowa AD’s retirement agreement with the university waived the 120-day notice requirement and 12-month future employment restriction from his contract, essentially freeing him to pursue other opportunities.

He and his wife also will receive health insurance coverage from the university until either his 65th birthday or he becomes eligible for health insurance via a future employer.

Barta’s tenure at Iowa included on-field/on-court success and major facility upgrades, but also several discrimination lawsuit settlements and other controversies.

“I don’t have any regrets,” Barta said on the podcast. “There’s certainly things that didn’t turn out maybe the way we had wanted them to, but with the information we had at the time, I think we made the best decision.”

As Barta’s future plans remain unclear beyond Aug. 1, a symbolic and literal piece of his “win, graduate, do it right” motto will be leaving the fourth floor of Carver-Hawkeye Arena with him.

“That three-legged stool — literally I have it in my office,” Barta said. “I’m going to take it home with me.”

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com