A state official wants the University of Iowa to dismiss longstanding AD Gary Barta as part of a lawsuit settlement with a dozen former Hawkeye players.
In the heated days of the summer of 2020, a large number of former Iowa football players, all of them Black, came forward with stories of alleged mistreatment, primarily at the hands of head coach Kirk Ferentz, offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, and strength coach Chris Doyle.
Those complaints eventually grew into a lawsuit, with a Tulsa-based firm heading the charge in pursuit of $20 million in damages from the university.
Nearly three years have since passed, with the plaintiffs in line for a $4.175 million judgment. That figure is set to be split nearly down the middle: the University of Iowa would owe $2.175 million, and the state of Iowa covering $2 million... with a catch.
Iowa state auditor Rob Sand has specified that, if the state were to pay its $2 million share, he wants AD Gary Barta fired.
"Enough is enough. Clear personal accountability is necessary," Sand said, via Hawk Central. "I will not support taxpayers funding this settlement unless Gary Barta is no longer employed at the university and forfeits any severance or similar pay. I encourage you to join me. Real accountability will help prevent discrimination, protecting both taxpayers and future victims."
Sand is one part of a 3-member board, and would presumably need to convince at least one of the two others to join him. Sand cited a 2012 scandal involving a former Iowa athletics employee accused of sexual assault plus three other instances of discrimination within Iowa athletics totaling $7 million.
Doyle was paid a settlement to leave in the summer of 2020, while the other three remain entrenched in their respective positions. Kirk Ferentz is by far the longest-tenured head coach in FBS; heading into his 25th season, he out-ranks the next longest-tenured head coach (Utah's Kyle Whittingham) by six seasons. Brian Ferentz has been on his father's coaching staff since 2012, and his offensive coordinator since 2017. Barta has been Iowa's AD since the 2006 football season.
The three have an unusual working arrangement. To evade the state's anti-nepotism laws, Barta is technically Brian Ferentz's supervisor. For the 2023 season, the two arranged a contract that specifies Iowa must score at least 25 points a game in order for Brian Ferentz's to continue beyond January 2024.
As for the case at hand, a 2020 investigation by a third-party law firm found “the program’s rules perpetuated racial or cultural biases and diminished the value of cultural diversity.” That report formed the basis for the lawsuit.
In addition to the settlement (each player will likely receive around $184,000, after attorneys' fees), the University of Iowa agreed to commit $90,000 for each player to pursue a postgraduate degree and to pay the players' mental health costs through March 15, 2024.
Update: According to the Des Moines Register, the board voted 2-1 to pay the state's $2 million portion of the settlement. Auditor Sand's motion was denied.
Sand also reached out to AD Gary Barta on Friday in advance of calling for his job. Felt it was the right thing to do. They had a "cordial" conversation.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) March 6, 2023
"At the end of the day, when you've had four settlements related to discrimination, you have to say enough is enough."
Department of Management director Kraig Paulsen essentially declined to weigh in on a personnel matter at the University of Iowa. “I’m not in a position or I’m not ready to basically convict the group of defendants on this and hold one out in particular," he told the Des Moines Register.
Friday Update: The University of Iowa will cover the State of Iowa's $2 million portion of the settlement, UI president Barbara Wilson announced Thursday.
Per UI President Barbara Wilson, the university will reimburse the state of Iowa $2M over the Iowa football lawsuit settlement. Statement below. pic.twitter.com/8yknlIaXLX
— Chad Leistikow🆑 (@ChadLeistikow) March 9, 2023