(UPDATED) – Iowa baseball coach Rick Heller says he was caught off guard by sudden retirement of Hawkeye Athletic Director Gary Barta. The school announced Barta will retire on August first after serving 17 years as A-D.

Barta has been criticized after four discrimination suits in the past nine years that cost the U-I more than 11-million dollars. There has also been more than 380 million dollars of facility upgrades and a high level of success in numerous sports.

Heller says Barta deserves much of the credit for the level of success the athletic department in enjoying in numerous sports.

Heller says the athletic department has tremendous momentum right now.

Iowa will announce an interim athletic director next week. The Hawkeye baseball team is 41-13 and returns to action tomorrow in the semifinal round of the Big Ten Tournament in Omaha. Iowa plays the winner of this afternoon’s between Michigan and Indiana and will need one win on Saturday to advance to Sunday’s championship game.