Taylor leaves Hawks for Wildcats
The Iowa Athletics Department and Gary Barta lost their top aide on April 14, when Deputy Athletics Director Gene Taylor announced he was leaving Iowa to become the athletics director at Kansas State in Manhattan, Kansas.

Taylor was hired by Barta in 2014 after he served as athletics director at North Dakota State for 13 years, where Barta graduated from school.

The 59-year-old Taylor made it clear when he was hired at Iowa almost three years ago that his goal was to be an athletics director at a BCS school. Kansas State checks that box.

In his time at Iowa, Taylor was in charge of the department’s financial, information technology, and human-resources operations, as well as the day-to-day operations.

“I’m so excited for him and for Kansas State. He has such a great combination of passion, experience, and the ability to lead by bringing people together toward a common goal,” Barta said in a release. ”He’s made a big difference during his time with the Hawkeyes. I’m going to miss him as a colleague and as a friend.”

— by Blake Dowson