Troy athletic director reportedly gets vacant USU job

LOGAN – Aggie fans have been anxiously waiting the replacement of USU Athletic Director Scott Barnes, and the hire may happen very soon.

According to an article published by The Salt Lake Tribune, sources close to USU said Troy University Athletic Director John Hartwell will soon be named the athletic director at Utah State. The spot became vacant when it was announced in April that Barnes would be leaving to take the same job at the University of Pittsburgh.

Barnes’ performance will be tough to replicate. In his seven years as athletic director USU saw unprecedented success in football, a move to the Mountain West Conference, new facilities and a $2.4 million apparel and rebranding deal with Nike.

Hartwell may be the guy that can live up to that, he has done similar things at Troy. According to Troy’s website, he helped its athletic department with several significant upgrades to their facilities and was instrumental in improving fundraising. In addition, there were improvements made in the classroom. A record number of student-athletes earned at least a 3.0 grade-point-average.

Hartwell’s experience in athletic departments came long before his time at Troy. He spent nine years as the senior executive associate athletics director at the University of Mississippi. While going to school at The Citadel, Hartwell played college basketball and was a four-year letterman, a three-year starter and a captain his senior year.

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