New management plan filed for Ferentz's future son-in-law

The University of Iowa Athletics Department has submitted a proposal for managing the conflict of interest of having Head Football Coach Kirk Ferentz's future son-in-law work in his department.

The Gazette reported March 6 that Tyler Barnes, engaged to Joanne Ferentz, has been working as an administrative assistant for the football program since January 2012.

Athletics reassigned Barnes March 7 so he no longer reports through football. Sue Buckley, UI vice president for Human Resources, asked the department to develop a conflict-of-interest management plan to be reviewed by a nine-member committee composed of faculty and staff.

Buckley received the proposed management plan Wednesday and gave her committee until April 17 to submit comments, she said.

“They will review the plan and will either offer modifications or approve,” she said in a previous interview about the process.

Barnes, 27, and Joanne Ferentz, a 26-year-old Iowa City elementary school teacher, were dating when Barnes was hired and got engaged last summer. They are planning a July 6 wedding.

The UI's policy on nepotism says conflicts of interest in employment can arise not only from blood relationship, but through marriage, “intense personal friendships or significant business relationships.” When conflicts can't be avoided, the UI requires supervisors to create plans for managing the conflict.

Barnes, who earned two Bachelor's degrees and a Master's degree from UI, was hired in January 2012 as a temporary administrative assistant for football.

The one-year appointment with an annual salary of $32,000 was intended as a proving ground for young men who want to learn about football operations, Kirk Ferentz told the Gazette in March. Barnes succeeded LeVar Woods, who became an assistant coach earlier this year.

Athletics officials asked the UI in November to extend Barnes' employment for an extra year and bumped up his pay to $38,000.

Ferentz told The Gazette he didn't see a reason to tell Athletics Director Gary Barta about the change in Barnes's personal status.