Barbour gave no indication that she might retire when asked prior to the Jan. 1 Outback Bowl about her future plansGetty Images
Penn State AD Sandy Barbour “will retire” this summer after eight years at the university, according to Daniel Gallen of PENNLIVE.com. Barbour’s contract was “previously set to run” through the ‘22-23 academic year. Her departure “will now coincide" with the retirement of Penn State President Dr. Eric Barron. The school will "conduct a 'national search' for Barbour’s replacement." One of Barbour’s final "key" moves as AD was signing football coach James Franklin to a 10-year contract extension in November (PENNLIVE.com, 3/16). THE ATHLETIC notes Barbour "did not hire" Franklin, though his first season “coincided with her arrival.” Barbour “recently hired” men’s basketball coach Micah Shrewsberry, who just finished his first season, and women’s basketball coach Carolyn Kieger, who just finished her third season. Since the start of her tenure in '14, Penn State has won six team national championships. When asked prior to the Jan. 1 Outback Bowl about her future plans, Barbour “gave no indication that she might retire” (THEATHLETIC.com, 3/16).
RESTORATION PROJECT: In Pittsburgh, Adam Bittner notes Barbour, whose formal title is VP/Intercollegiate Athletics, was hired "in the shadow of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse and has presided over the resurgence of the football program, which won a Big Ten championship in 2016 after years of scandal-related sanctions." Other programs that "have had success on her watch" include women’s soccer, women’s volleyball and wrestling, all with "national titles during her tenure." Facilities also will be a "major part of her legacy, as she’s secured major funding for renovation of the Lasch football complex and helped the school develop a master plan to upgrade other facilities over the course of the next decade." Her tenure was "not without controversy, however." Barbour "presided over the resignation" of men’s basketball coach Patrick Chambers following an "internal report into his conduct" in '20 (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 3/16).
