Barr Joins Tennessee Athletics Leadership Team, will Oversee Event Management

James Barr is joining the Tennessee Athletics executive staff as Associate Athletics Director for Event Management. The move is a homecoming for Barr, who graduated from Tennessee and served as an equipment manager with the Vols football program from 1998-2002.

Barr will assume direct oversight of Tennessee Athletics' Event Management department, which coordinates all gameday logistics for events spanning UT's 20 varsity sports and other special events.

A native of Nashville, Barr steps into the role currently held by David Elliott, who is retiring, effective Sept. 1, after 30 years of full-time service to Tennessee Athletics.

"We're excited to welcome James and his family back home to Rocky Top in what is a critically important role," Tennessee Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White said. "James has a wealth of big-time experience and an outstanding reputation across college athletics. He's effectively managed venues and crowds at this level, and he shares our enthusiasm for innovative ideas.

"Our Event Management unit has enjoyed extraordinary leadership under David Elliott, and we appreciate David's continued service as he helps familiarize James with all of the various groups that work collaboratively to make Tennessee gamedays wonderful experiences for our fans across all sports."

Barr transitions to Rocky Top after 19 years with the University of Texas athletics department, where he rose to the position of Associate AD for Events and Game Operations.

Managing a major college football venue with a six-figure capacity is familiar territory for Barr, as he has served as gameday manager and overseen nearly all aspects of event operations at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium.

He served as Texas Athletics' liaison for campus safety and security, traffic control (with the City of Austin) and parking and transportation.

"Returning to the University of Tennessee and the Big Orange family is a dream come true. I can't thank Danny White, (Deputy AD) Ryan Alpert and the entire University of Tennessee administration enough for the opportunity. Serving collegiate student-athletes and striving to provide the best experience for them is my passion. That passion was first realized at the University of Tennessee.

"I've been absolutely blessed to be a part of countless unparalleled experiences in my time at the University of Texas. We've built lifelong relationships with so many outstanding student-athletes, staff and countless supporters during our time in Austin. I can't thank Texas enough for all they've done to support my family and me. At the end of the day, there was one place we'd leave Texas for, and that's the University of Tennessee. Tennessee is building something really special, and I can't wait to be a part of it and see it come to fruition."

Barr's first full-time role in college athletics came as an assistant equipment manager at Florida Atlantic University in 2002. He was hired in the same role at Texas in 2003 and transitioned to the Longhorns' event staff in the Fall of 2008.
Texas promoted Barr to an assistant AD position in 2012, at which time he assumed oversight of the Texas Relays—the second-largest annual track & field meet in the United States.

A 2019 recipient of the University of Texas President's Outstanding Staff Award, Barr was named the 2013 USA Track & Field Meet Director of the Year. He also was selected as the Honorary Referee at the 92^nd annual Texas Relays in 2019.

A member of the Collegiate Event and Facility Management Association (CEFMA), Barr also has served as a board member with the Texas Track & Field Coaches Association.

Additional events/projects Barr has managed or co-managed include multiple NCAA Outdoor Track & Field prelims and championships, Major League Soccer events, a Copa Aztex showcase game and a SocioMX Cup contest.

An Eagle Scout, Barr earned a History degree from Tennessee in 2000. He and his wife, Beth—also a Tennessee alum—have two children, Molly Kate and William.