Tyler Barnes

Tyler Barnes is in his third season as the University of Iowa’s chief of staff and general manager. Barnes maintains a primary focus on recruiting for the football program while serving as the main liaison for Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities between the program and external parties.

He was named director of recruiting in April 2016 and also serves as the NFL liaison for the Hawkeyes. Barnes previously served on the Iowa staff as a student assistant (2009-10), graduate assistant (2011), and administrative assistant (2012). In his current role, he leads all aspects of prospect identification, assists the coaching staff with off-campus recruiting efforts, and coordinates all on-campus recruiting activities.

Iowa won 23 combined contests the last three seasons, including capturing the Big Ten West Division in 2023 and winning the 2025 ReliaQuest Bowl with a 34-27 triumph over No. 14 Vanderbilt. Iowa has been ranked in the final AP Top 25 six of the last eight seasons, including ranking No. 17 in 2025.

The Hawkeyes have had at least one consensus All-American each of the last five seasons, including multiple honorees the last three years, and six national individual positional award recipients (Rimington, twice; Jet, twice; Ray Guy and Butkus). Iowa’s offensive line also garnered recognition as the best in the country with the Joe Moore Award twice in 10 years (2025 and 2016).

Iowa’s streak of 13 straight bowl invitations is the longest in school history and its streak of 13 straight winning seasons ranks fifth best among power conferences. The Hawkeyes have earned 36 conference victories between 2020 and 2025.

Iowa won eight contests 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.

The Hawkeyes won 10 games in 2021, winning the Big Ten West Division title and advancing to the conference championship game. Iowa concluded the season with an appearance in the Citrus Bowl and was ranked 23rd in the final national ranking.

Following back-to-back narrow losses to open the 2020 season, Iowa won its final six games, all in Big Ten play. The Hawkeyes were ranked 15th in the final CFP ranking and Coaches Poll and 16th by the AP.

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 final Associated Press and Coaches polls.

The Hawkeyes concluded 2019 with a 10-3 record following a 49-24 rout over No. 22 USC in the Holiday Bowl. The three losses were all to ranked opponents by a combined 14 points. Iowa was 4-1 in trophy games for the third straight season.

Iowa completed 2018 with nine wins and a final AP ranking of No. 25. 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 Big Ten West Division. 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.

During his tenure, Iowa has appeared in 13 bowl games, including the Rose, Citrus (twice), Outback/ReliaQuest (four times), Music City (three times), TaxSlayer, Holiday and Pinstripe.

Barnes rejoined the Iowa staff after serving on Vanderbilt’s 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 High School.

Barnes and his wife, Joanne, have two daughters, Blakely and Bella, and a son, Beckett.