CORVALLIS - Inside the media room the Valley Football Center, where construction continued Thursday on the athletic facility renovation funded by $42 million in private donations, Oregon State officially introduced Scott Barnes as its next athletic director.
The setting inside the football center provided a level of symbolism for the hire of Barnes, who is well-known for his fundraising skills, efforts to improve athletic facilities and his connection to Oregon State head football coach Gary Andersen. Calling the position "absolutely a destination job," Barnes' hire came three months after Georgia Tech announced former OSU athletic director Todd Stansbury as its hire for the same role.