As we reported previously, Liberty Athletic Director is in serious consideration to be Terry Holland’s replacement at East Carolina. Barber has been named one of three early leaders along with Nick Floyd and Jeff Compher to replace Holland as East Carolina’s Athletic Director according to Denny O’Brien.
Nick Floyd, Jeff Barber, and Jeff Compher are the early leaders to replace Terry Holland as #ECU AD.
— Denny O’Brien (@TheDOB) February 15, 2013
Floyd and Barber have obvious ties to #ECU. Compher spent a lot of time at #NCState and hired Dave Doeren at #NIU.
— Denny O’Brien (@TheDOB) February 15, 2013
Barber was named Liberty’s Director of Athletics on January 23, 2006. Prior to his time at Liberty, Barber served for 11 years at South Carolina most recently as Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development/Gamecock Club Executive Director. Barber graduated from East Carolina in 1981, and worked at his alma mater for four years.
Nick Floyd is currently the Executive Associate Athletics Director at East Carolina while Jeff Compher is currently the Athletic Director at Northern Illinois.
I can’t see Barber leaving Liberty Mountain, hasn’t this been brought up before and he turned down the opportunity at another SEC school?
If the opportunity presented itself, I’d love to be the athletic director at my alma mater, especially with the school moving up to the Big East in football and probably all sports in the future. Barber has done almost all he can do for Liberty. About all that’s left is for Liberty to go FBS and who knows how long from now that is? Much like Danny Rocco, this is his chance to go out on top and give Liberty the opportunity to bring in someone else who can take them over the top.
There are two major events looming that Liberty’s AD will have to focus on: Liberty has to leave the Big South to upgrade the profile of all their programs (most importantly football to FBS) and the men’s basketball team needs an overhaul from the ground up. I pray that Barber or his replacement will be able to put Liberty in the best position to succeed.