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<p class="maintitle"><span class="Fid_12"> Iowa, Barta agree to
extension </span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_9"> Despite ongoing courtroom
battles, Harreld backs AD</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span style="font-weight:bold;"> By Marc Morehouse,</span><span
class="Fid_11"> The Gazette</span><span class="Fid_7"> IOWA CITY
- The dichotomy of Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta's last
year came to the ultimate head on Wednesday.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_7"> 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.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_7"> Barta's contract with Iowa was
set to expire June 30, 2016.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_7"> 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.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_7"> 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.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_7"> '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.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_7"> Barta withstood a heavy dose
of criticism and complaints from the Iowa fan base when he
decided after a disappointing 2014 football season</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_14"> </span><span
style="font-weight:bold;"></span></p>
<img src="cid:part1.03060704.01040904@gmail.com" onload="if
(this.width > 460) {this.height = this.height * 480 / this.width;
this.width = 460;}" height="71" width="49">
<p class="abody"><span style="font-weight:bold;"> Gary Barta</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_13"> Iowa AD</span></p>
<br>
<hr>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_4"> - including a 7-6 record and
losses in the final three games - to stick with head coach Kirk
Ferentz.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_4"> 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.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_4"> 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 for</span><span
class="Fid_4"> the school's first regular season conference
championship since 1979.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_4"> Off the field, the UI is
facing criticism about gender discrimination from a former
female coach and student-athletes.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_4"> 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.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_4"> Griesbaum has also filed a
complaint with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission alleging
discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_4"> The U.S. Department of
Education has continued its investigation with Iowa athletics
department for al</span><span class="Fid_4">leged 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.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_4"> The first hint of Barta's
standing with Harreld came during Iowa's Rose Bowl trip to
California.</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_4"> 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.'</span></p>
<p class="abody"><span class="Fid_5"> •</span><span class="Fid_6">
Comments: (319) 398-8256; <a
href="mailto:marc.morehouse@thegazette.com"><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:marc.morehouse@thegazette.com">marc.morehouse@thegazette.com</a></a></span></p>
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