Staff Directory

James Barr

Title:
Senior Associate Athletics Director of Facilities & Event Operations
Email:
Phone:
(865) 974-9276

Updated: August 2025

James Barr joined the Tennessee Athletics executive staff as associate athletics director of event management in the summer of 2022. The move marked a homecoming for Barr, who graduated from Tennessee and served as an equipment manager with the Vols football program from 1998-2002.

Barr was promoted to senior associate athletics director of event management in 2024, and his title changed to senior associate athletics director of facilities and event operations in 2025.

A native of Nashville, Barr has direct oversight of Tennessee Athletics’ Events and Hospitality in addition to event management, which coordinates all gameday logistics for events spanning UT’s 20 varsity sports and other special events.

“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 upon Barr's hiring. “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."

Barr transitioned 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 was familiar territory for Barr, as he served as gameday manager and oversaw 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.

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.