Iowa Athletic Director Gary Barta begins his first full week of a coaching search after Steve Alford left the Hawkeyes and was named the new men’s basketball coach at New Mexico Friday. Barta said Friday he had already meet with the players and said he hadn’t heard from anyone who said they were leaving.
Barta says the players signed on with a group of coaches and a university, and now that group of coaches is gone. Barta says that’s a shock, but he says his talk with the payers didn’t include anything beyond wanting to go out and get a new coach so they know where they’re headed. Barta says the situation with recruits and talking to them is a little different than the players already on the team.
Barta says there are some NCAA restrictions about contacting recruits, but he says he can take any incoming phone calls from recruits. Barta says he has already taken some calls from recruits and their families, and had good conversations with them. Barta doesn’t know if the players will be involved in the search committee for the new coach.
Barta says he hasn’t determined who will be on the search committee and has talked with the players about what they want in a coach. Barta says it could be cumbersome to have players on the committee because of class time and other commitments. Barta says he wants to complete the search quickly, but will not rush things.