Tyler Barnes was named director of recruiting in April, 2016, and also serves as NFL liason for the program. Barnes previously served on the Iowa staff in student assistant (2009-10), graduate assistant (2011), and administrative assistant (2012) capacities. As director of recruiting, Barnes has a lead role in all aspects of prospect identification, assisting the coaching staff in off-campus recruiting efforts, and coordinating all aspects of on-campus recruiting activities.
Iowa posted an 8-5 record in 2022, concluding the season with a 21-0 win over Kentucky in the Music City Bowl and wins in five of its final six games. Iowa’s streak of 10 straight bowl invitations is the longest in school history and the Hawkeyes have been in the Top 25 final rankings in four of the last five seasons. Iowa’s streak of 10 straight winning seasons ranks 10th best in the nation.
The Hawkeyes won 10 games in 2021, winning the Big Ten’s West Division title and advancing to the conference championship game. Iowa concluded the season with an appearance in the Vrbo Citrus Bowl and was ranked 23rd in the nation in the final national rankings.
Iowa opened the 2021 season with six straight wins and closed the regular season with four straight victories to earn the West Division title and a berth in the league championship game for the second time since 2015. Iowa has been in the final national rankings in each of the past four seasons and has earned 19 conference wins in the past three seasons, Iowa’s highest three-year conference win total since 2002-04.
Following back-to-back narrow losses to open the 2020 season, Iowa won six straight games, all in Big Ten play, to complete the regular season. The Hawkeyes were ranked 15th in the nation in the final CFP rankings and coaches poll, and 16th by the Associated Press.
Iowa won 47 games from 2015-19, the highest total in school history over any five-year period, and a total that ranked ninth nationally. Iowa won its final four games in 2019 and ranked 15th in the nation in the final Associated Press and coaches polls.
The Hawkeyes concluded the 2019 campaign with a 10-3 record following a 49-24 win over No. 22 Southern California in the Holiday Bowl. The three losses were all to ranked opponents by a combined 14 points. The Hawkeyes were 4-1 in trophy games for the third straight season.
Iowa completed the 2018 season with a 9-4 mark and a final ranking of 25th in the Associated Press national rankings. The Hawkeyes earned a 27-22 Outback Bowl win over No. 18 Mississippi State to close the season with three straight wins. The four losses came by a total of 23 points and all were decided in the final minutes of play. Iowa tied for second in the Big Ten West Division.
The Hawkeyes posted a perfect 12-0 regular season record in 2015, winning the West Division of the Big Ten Conference. Iowa participated in the 2016 Rose Bowl Game and the 2015 Big Ten Championship and ended the season in the top 10 in the final national rankings.
Iowa’s most recent bowl game invitations include the 2022 Music City Bowl, 2022 Citrus Bowl, 2020 Music City Bowl, 2019 Holiday Bowl, 2019 Outback Bowl, 2017 Outback Bowl, 2016 Rose Bowl Game, 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl and 2014 Outback Bowl. The Hawkeyes have ranked in the final top 10 of both major polls five times in the past 21 seasons.
Barnes rejoined the Iowa staff after serving on the Vanderbilt University football staff for three years. He held the position of director of player personnel for two years after serving as co-recruiting coordinator in 2013.
In his previous roles at Iowa, Barnes assisted the coaching staff in compiling statistical information, and gathering information on opponents and recruits, while assisting in the day-to-day operations of the football program. He has also assisted with Iowa football camps and coaching clinics.
Barnes earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa in 2009, with a double major in Finance and Sports Studies. He earned his master’s degree from Iowa in Recreation and Sports Management in 2011.
Barnes is a native of Decatur, Illinois, and a graduate of MacArthur HS.
Tyler was born May 14, 1985, in Peoria, Illinois. Tyler and his wife, Joanne, have a daughter, Blakely, and a son, Beckett.