Gary Barta is a nationally respected leader in college athletics. At the time of his retirement from the University of Iowa in 2023, he was the 6th longest tenured FBS AD in the country. He has served intercollegiate athletics in numerous capacities in the past 40 years, including 17 as the Director of Athletics for Hawkeyes. Since 2023, Barta has continued to contribute to the college space as a consultant working with the Big Ten Conference, Deloitte, and start-up company Scout.

Barta has served numerous leadership roles on behalf of college athletics throughout his career. He was a member of the NCAA Division I Council, the governing entity responsible for providing oversight and decision making for Division I athletics. He’s served on various committees and working groups including the Committee on Championships and the Transfer Committee. He has been an active member of LEAD1, including a stint on the Board of Directors. 

Barta was a member of the prestigious College Football Playoff (CFP) Selection Committee for a three-year term and served as Chair in his final two seasons. He served on a number of Big Ten Conference committees during his tenure including, in more recent years: the Rose Bowl Management Committee, the TV contract extension committee, and the search for a new Big Ten Commissioner.