Iowa AD Gary Barta wants next Big Ten commissioner to have ‘a lot of direct experience in college athletics’

IOWA CITY — As the Big Ten Conference searches for its next commissioner, Iowa athletics director Gary Barta wants to see the conference hire someone with “a lot of direct experience in college athletics.”

“This isn’t speaking on behalf of the presidents, it’s not speaking on behalf of the other ADs,” Barta told The Gazette last week after a Presidential Committee on Athletics meeting. “But I really think we need somebody who has a strong background in college athletics.”

Barta’s comments have followed non-traditional commissioner hires by the Big 12 and Pac-12 in the last two years. The Big 12 hired a commissioner who previously was an executive at an entertainment agency founded by pop star Jay-Z, and the Pac-12 picked an MGM Resorts executive.

Knowledge in television was the first thing Barta brought up when asked about qualities he’d like to see in the next commissioner. The conference agreed to a seven-year media rights agreement last summer with Fox, CBS and NBC.

“Television is No. 1 because the final contracts need to get done,” Barta said. “We have new partners, in addition to Fox, with NBC and CBS. So we have a lot of work to do. So having expertise and/or ability to navigate that is really important.”

Barta also underscored the integration of USC and UCLA into the conference and the importance of having a “strong voice” on the College Football Playoff’s management committee.

Ultimately, Barta will not be the one from Iowa with a vote, though.

“The presidents make the decision, but we’re certainly providing feedback,” Barta said.

The commissioner vacancy is a result of Kevin Warren’s decision to leave to become president and chief executive officer of the Chicago Bears. Warren was the chief operating officer of the Minnesota Vikings before taking the Big Ten reins in 2020.

The Big Ten tabbed TurnkeyZRG as its search firm for the new commissioner. TurnkeyZRG also helped with the searches for the Big 12, Pac-12 and ACC commissioners in 2021 and 2022.

Jim Phillips, the current ACC commissioner, quickly emerged in national reports as a possible candidate to replace Warren. Phillips grew up in Chicago, graduated from Illinois and spent more than a decade as athletics director at Northwestern.

Other possible candidates include Ohio State AD Gene Smith, Big Ten senior vice president Kerry Kenny and Patriot League commissioner Jennifer Heppel.

In the meantime, the Big Ten continues to move forward on important decisions, including football scheduling for 2024 and beyond.

“Really we can’t wait much longer,” Barta said of football scheduling. “Maybe it’s a four or five, six-year window that we lock in so that we know we can put together our nonconference schedules.”

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com