[Herky] Iowa, Barta agree to extension

[Sue Bailey]

Iowa, Barta agree to extension

Despite ongoing courtroom battles, Harreld backs AD

By Marc Morehouse,The GazetteIOWA CITY - The dichotomy of Iowa Athletics 
Director Gary Barta's last year came to the ultimate head on Wednesday.

According to UI documents, Barta and UI President Bruce Harreld agreed 
to a five-year contract extension effective Jan. 1, 2016. Barta's base 
salary will increase from $400,000 to $550,000 in July. The deal also 
guarantees $250,000 in annual deferred compensation. Both amounts 
increase by $50,000 in 2018.

Barta's contract with Iowa was set to expire June 30, 2016.

While Iowa football climbed the rankings last fall, the UI athletics 
department also found itself in court with former employees in addition 
to a U.S. Department of Education investigation for alleged Title IX 
violations.

So, the news of a contract extension is up for your interpretation. 
There have been a lot of great accomplishments and a lot of lawyering up 
with Iowa athletics in the last year.

'Director Barta is a longtime member of the University of Iowa family 
and extending his contract was the right thing to do,' Harreld said in a 
statement Wednesday. 'He and the entire athletics department are 
committed to the success of our student-athletes both on the field of 
play and in the classroom.' Also in a statement, Barta said, 'My family 
and I have been blessed to be back in Iowa these past 10 years. We have 
incredible coaches, staff, student-athletes, and fans. I'm grateful to 
Bruce Harreld for showing his confidence in us, and allowing us to be a 
part of his team going forward. The best is yet to come.' Iowa football 
was a smash hit in 2015. Iowa men's basketball also is on a run that 
could end up being historic.

Barta withstood a heavy dose of criticism and complaints from the Iowa 
fan base when he decided after a disappointing 2014 football season

Gary Barta

Iowa AD


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- including a 7-6 record and losses in the final three games - to stick 
with head coach Kirk Ferentz.

That resolution paid off with Ferentz and the Hawkeyes rebounding to a 
12-0 regular season, a school record for victories and Iowa's first 
perfect season since 1922, Iowa's first postseason appearance in the Big 
Ten championship game and the school's first Rose Bowl since 1991.

In men's basketball, the Hawkeyes are ranked No. 4 by the Associated 
Press and No. 5 by the USA Today coaches poll. The Hawkeyes were 20-5 
heading into Wednesday night's game at Penn State. Iowa is in first 
place in the Big Ten standings and in the running forthe school's first 
regular season conference championship since 1979.

Off the field, the UI is facing criticism about gender discrimination 
from a former female coach and student-athletes.

Four UI field hockey players and former players filed a federal civil 
rights complaint in January 2015 against the UI alleging their rights to 
gender equity were violated when the UI fired coach Tracey Griesbaum in 
August 2014.

Griesbaum has also filed a complaint with the Iowa Civil Rights 
Commission alleging discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation.

The U.S. Department of Education has continued its investigation with 
Iowa athletics department for alleged Title IX violations in connection 
with the Griesbaum firing. Also, Griesbaum's partner, former UI senior 
associate athletics director Jane Meyer, was transferred from the 
athletics department to facilities last December and has filed a lawsuit 
accusing the school of gender discrimination and retaliation. Griesbaum 
also is expected to file a lawsuit.

The first hint of Barta's standing with Harreld came during Iowa's Rose 
Bowl trip to California.

Harreld told The Gazette of Barta and Ferentz: 'They are long-term 
members of our family, and I intend to keep it that way.' He added that 
the two have 'never been on thin ice with me.'

•Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse at thegazette.com 
<mailto:marc.morehouse at thegazette.com>

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