New contract for EWU A.D.

Eastern Washington athletic director Scott Barnes on Monday withdrew as a candidate for the same job at Northern Illinois after negotiating a new contract, EWU officials said.

Barnes was offered a new five-year contract with a base salary of $125,000 — a $15,000 increase — plus incentives, the school said.

“Eastern has made tremendous gains in athletics since Scott came to the university,” said EWU president Stephen M. Jordan. “Scott has brought a renewed focus to academic integrity among our student-athletes and great success to our fund- and friend-raising activities.”

Barnes has been athletic director at the Big Sky Conference school for five seasons. Last year, the men’s basketball team made its first trip to the NCAA Tournament. Eastern plays Division 1-AA in football and Division 1-A in other sports.

Barnes was one of three finalists for athletic director at Northern Illinois, the third time in two years he has been a finalist at a Division I-A program.

“My association with Dr. Jordan and the entire EWU family has been a blessing, and I look forward to working with the many great people on our staff to continue our progress,” Barnes said.

Barnes, a Spokane native, was athletic director at Humboldt State from 1997-99, and associate athletic director at Iowa State from 1994-97.