UTEP athletics director talks about Tony Barbee, Iowa

Reports from El Paso say that UTEP Coach Tony Barbee has interviewed with Iowa officials and that he's a candidate for the Auburn job. Even the El Paso Times expects Barbee to find a new job.

Well, UTEP Athletics Director Bob Stull, a Davenport native, has a different take when asked if Iowa officials had interviewed and/or offered Barbee its coaching job.

"I'm sure he'd wish that was true," Stull said with a laugh. "No they haven't. In fact Gary Barta and I worked together at Washington, so I know him very well. No, they haven't contacted them, unless he's interviewed in secret, but Gary Barta would call me.

"So the quest goes on. Everybody's trying to figure out who's doing what."

Barbee, 38, took UTEP to a 26-7 record and the NCAA Tournament this year, his fourth season with the Miners. He won 14 games his first season, 19 his second and 23 in his third. He played under John Calipari at UMass and then coached under Calipari at Memphis.

"Right now as far as I know he might be on the list, but he can't be at the top of the list if they're talking to people," Stull said. "He has not been contacted by Iowa as far as I know."