Career
He was previously the AD at Utah State University. During his tenure at Utah State University, Barnes greatly increased funding for all Aggie sports, and oversaw the hiring of football coach Gary Andersen and the completion of the Jim & Carol Laub Athletics-Academics Complex on campus. He also worked to improve the public image and visibility of Aggie sports, which included inking deals with statewide and national television stations, as well as a sponsorship deal with the Maverik chain of service stations, resulting in the renaming of the university"s football stadium in April 2015.
On May 8, 2013, Barnes was named chairman of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Men"s Basketball Tournament"s selection committee.
The Aggies brought in Women's Army Corps championships in five sports during the 2008-2009 academic year, tied for the most in school history. Barnes was also recently selected as a faculty member in the Division I Athletics Director Association Institute.
As Athletics Director, Barnes"s work has been integral in improving the overall image of Utah State University itself, which image had taken a hit in recent years due to the futility of the football team The New York Times quoted him as saying "Athletics are the front porch of the university.
lieutenant’s not the most important room in the house, but it is the most visible."
Before coming to USU, Barnes served as athletics director at Eastern Washington University.
He has also held positions at the University of Washington and the University of San Diego. He attended Fresno State University, where he played basketball.
