Dec 22, 2016 3 min read

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State has lured Pittsburgh athletic director Scott Barnes west to take over the same job with the Beavers.

The school named Barnes vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics Thursday. Barnes, who will start his new job in February, replaces Todd Stansbury. Stansbury left in September to become athletic director at Georgia Tech, his alma mater.

Oregon State President Ed Ray called Barnes a “perfect fit.”

“He understands that at Oregon State University, good is not good enough,” Ray said in a statement. “OSU and its student-athletes will be champions in all aspects of athletics, as students and in the community.”

Barnes spent just over 18 months with the Panthers, who hired him in April 2015 after Steve Pederson was fired. Barnes came to the Panthers after working in the same position at Utah State.

During his tenure at Utah State, Barnes hired Gary Andersen as the Aggies’ football coach in 2009. Andersen is now the head coach at Oregon State.

Barnes, 54, has spent the majority of his life in the western part of the United States. He played basketball at Fresno State and has worked in various capacities at Humboldt State in California, Eastern Washington, Washington and Utah State.

“Upon accepting the athletic director position at the University of Pittsburgh more than 18 months ago, I mentioned how honored and humbled my family was to join the ‘Pitt Family,'” Barnes said. “During our time here, we’ve learned, more and more, how fitting that description really is. Pitt is an incredibly special place with wonderful people who have become like family for us.

“That’s why leaving the university to accept the athletic director position at Oregon State was such a difficult decision. Ultimately, we felt this was a choice we had to make based on some very important personal family considerations.

Pitt Chancellor Patrick Gallagher thanked Barns for his service. Barnes was hired by Pitt April 24, 2015.

“Scott Barnes is an outstanding athletic director and has been wholeheartedly committed to the success of our student-athletes during his time at Pitt,” Gallagher said. “I am very sorry to see him leave, but I know that Scott is doing what is best for his family, and I wish them well as he takes on his new role at Oregon State.”

During his brief time with the Panthers, Barnes hired men’s basketball coach Kevin Stallings and oversaw an overhaul at both the school’s football facility as well as the Petersen Events Center and made an aggressive effort with fan outreach. Barnes will help oversee the transition before his departure. Pitt chancellor Patrick Gallagher said a national search for a new athletic director will begin immediately.

Oregon State features 18 sports with 535 student-athletes and an operating budget of $84 million, a slightly larger operation than Pittsburgh, which has 19 sports, 475 student-athletes and a $75 million budget.