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A few weeks ago, Scott Barnes sat under a tent outside of the newly anointed Maverik Stadium and talked about the planned renovations for the stadium and the future of Utah State.
"These renovations are going to be the biggest thing we've undertaken here," he said. "We've got a lot of things planned for the future to help us stay competitive."
But it will be someone else who will see those grand plans to fruition for the Aggies. Barnes is leaving USU to become the new athletic director at the University of Pittsburgh. Barnes, who did not return messages left on his cellphone, will be introduced on Friday at a news conference in Pittsburgh.
The 52-year-old Barnes has served as Utah State's athletic director since April 1, 2008. His arrival marked a beginning of a boom in financial and athletic development for the school.
Under his guidance, the USU athletic program became a Nike school with a $2.4 million apparel deal, joined the Mountain West Conference and has seen immense growth with the completion of the $6.5 million ICON Sports Performance Center in 2013 and the $9.7 million, Wayne Estes Center in 2014.
The Aggies recently announced a 21-year sponsorship agreement with Maverik, which will provide key funding for the $36 million stadium renovation project that will begin in May and be completed before the 2016 season.
Barnes made a pair of key coaching hires, bringing former Utah defensive coordinator Gary Andersen aboard to lead the Aggie football program in 2009. When Andersen left for Wisconsin, Barnes replaced him with then-USU offensive coordinator Matt Wells. Together, Andersen and Wells forged an Aggie football renaissance. Bowl games and national television appearances are now the norm.
Most recently, he oversaw the transitions from longtime Aggie men's basketball coach Stew Morrill to his top assistant, Tim Duryea.
Barnes also served as chairman of the NCAA men's basketball committee in 2014-15.
Jim Laub, a prominent USU booster and CEO of Cache Valley Electric, said he has been in mourning since Barnes told him the news Wednesday.
"His legacy is going to last for decades," Laub said. "It will be the facilities he built, the great picks he made as coaches and all the changes in the whole direction and mindset of the athletic program — not only at the university but in the community and within the fan base."
Laub was part of the committee that interviewed candidates for the athletic director's position, and he said Barnes was a no-brainer pick then.
"He just had it, whatever 'it' is," he said. "He had the confidence and knew what he had to do."
Ultimately, Barnes's success should make it easier to hire a replacement because the position has been elevated, Laub said.
"The mindset now is Scott has moved on to another job and we have to go out and get another guy to carry on," he said.
Before joining the Aggies, Barnes spent three years as a senior associate athletic director for advancement at the University of Washington and served as the athletic director at Eastern Washington from 1999 to 2005.
Ron Jibson, chairman of USU's board of trustees, said Barnes' impact will be felt for many years.
"Scott has been a tremendous athletic director and integral in identifying and implementing programs and initiatives that have moved Aggie athletics in a monumental way," he said. "He has provided great leadership and solidified our athletic programs, and while doing so has created alumni and sponsor support that has lifted Aggie Nation to a new level." —
Scott Barnes' USU career
April 1, 2008 • Scott Barnes is hired as the Aggies athletic director
Dec. 4, 2008 • Gary Andersen is hired by the Aggies; he remained for four seasons before leaving for Wisconsin
Dec. 19, 2012 • Matt Wells is named as Andersen's successor
May 8, 2013 • Barnes is named chairman of the NCAA men's basketball committee
July 1, 2013 • The Aggies accept an invitation to begin competing in the Mountain West Conference in all sports
August 2013 • The $6.5 million ICON Sports Performance Center is completed
May 29, 2014 • Barnes is one of 28 athletic directors named Under Armour Athletics Directors of the Year
May 14, 2014 • The $9.7 million Wayne Estes Center is built
March 20, 2015 • Tim Duryea is tabbed as the successor to men's basketball coach Stew Morrill
April 11, 2015 • Aggies announce a sponsorship agreement with Maverik and renovation plans for the stadium
April 23, 2015 • Barnes leaves Utah State for Pitt