University of Iowa President Sally Mason spoke Wednesday in an interview with The Daily Iowan on the recent hirings made by Hawkeye Athletic Director Gary Barta — specifically, those that will separate the leadership of the compliance and academic services areas in the Iowa Athletic Department.

Barta made the announcement on Tuesday that Lyla Clerry will be the associate athletics director of compliance. Clerry joins the Iowa athletics staff after serving as an assistant athletics director at Arizona State for the past seven years.

Mason said that Barta, who stays in regular contact with the Mason, was pleased with the hiring.

“These folks will work closely with the Provost’s Office, the General Counsel’s Office, and other folks on campus to make certain that student-athletes are getting exactly what they need, [that] we stay in compliance with the NCAA rules and we do everything right,” Mason said. “From what I’ve seen of the credentials for these folks, they look pretty darn good to me, and we’ll welcome them here in Iowa, and I hope they get off to a good start and do some good things for us.”

Mason also noted Barta’s excitement about the recent coach hirings. In the last week, Barta named Rick Heller to be the new head baseball coach of the Hawkeyes and Andrew Carter as the new rowing coach.