University of California, Santa Barbara

Kelly Barsky was named the Director of Athletics on Jan. 2, 2023, having also served in an interim capacity the year prior. Barsky is the first female to lead the Gauchos in the over 100- year history of the athletics department.
 
A former student-athlete, coach and well-regarded athletics administrator, Barsky has infused an energy and strategic plan that is student-centered, people-focused, and community engaged while building upon a strong and sustainable foundation for extraordinary achievement in and out of the athletics arena.
 
Her commitment to serve and connect student-athletes and a deeply engaged Gaucho community is unwavering. While a strategic and a forward thinker, her commitment to the history and legacy of UC Santa Barbara athletics programs is woven into present and future planning.
 
She has supported numerous campaigns of excellence. The department reached historic milestones in 2024-25 with Manu Duah selected first overall in the MLS Draft, Tyler Bremner chosen second overall in the MLB Draft, and UC Santa Barbara earning its first-ever DI-AAA ADA All-Sport Trophy. Under Barsky’s guidance, during the 2023-24 season, Women’s Volleyball secured a first-place conference finish and an at-large selection to the NCAA Tournament, while Baseball earned a national ranking, captured the Big West Championship, and hosted an NCAA Regional. Women’s and Men’s Tennis each claimed conference titles, and multiple Gauchos achieved All-America honors, NCAA qualifications, and professional draft selections. Men’s Basketball standout Ajay Mitchell was chosen 38th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, while six baseball players were drafted, led by Matt Ager in the sixth round. Men’s Soccer, Men’s Water Polo, Women’s Swimming, and Men’s Swimming each finished as conference runners-up. Building on prior success that included Big West Championships in Men’s Basketball, Women’s Tennis, and Men’s Tennis in 2022-23.
 
Throughout her tenure all 20 of UC Santa Barbara’s programs have exceeded a 3.0 GPA in the classroom, record number of student-athletes have received academic honors, and the Gauchos have demonstrated a graduation success rate of 89%. In addition to the development in the classroom and in the sport arena, there has been renewed and interactive programming to support student-athlete holistic development along with increased community service and community engagement activities.
 
A focus on improving the game day experience for all Gauchos and fans, has been a key component to the increased season ticket purchases, attendance numbers and viewership ratings of late. Events that highlight Gaucho greats, celebrate and bring special recognition to groups and organizations have only supported a stronger and more connected Gaucho community along with an electric game day environment.
 
In July 2024, the Athletics Department hosted as part of the Wrex Coast Tour an over 13,000 person sold-out stadium for the international soccer game between AFC Wrexham and Bournemouth AFC in Harder Stadium. She has shepherded a partnership to bring Santa Barbara Sky FC, USL professional soccer, to Harder Stadium beginning in Spring of 2026.
 
Barsky has overseen record-breaking Gauchos Give Day campaigns each of the last three years, and supported increased philanthropic initiatives including receiving a generous gift to endow the Director of Athletics position from John and Jody Arnhold, and a donation of 15 million, the largest ever for the athletic department to support facilities construction and revitalization at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium.
 
Barsky has spearheaded a number of projects including upgraded chair backs in the historic Thunderdome as well as upgraded playing surfaces at both Caesar Uyesaka Stadium and Meredith Field at Harder Stadium.
 
She is active on the national stage as well and is the current chair of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Oversight Committee (WBOC), and just completed a 4 year tenure as the Big West Representative on the Division I Council.
 
Before becoming the Interim Director of Athletics in January 2022, Barsky served as the Deputy Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator for the Gauchos.  She provided strategic leadership to the department and oversaw all internal operations while building strong campus and community collaborations to enhance the student-athlete experience and well-being.
 
Having spent over a decade at UC Santa Barbara, Barsky held other positions on campus before making her way to the Director of Athletics chair including in academic affairs. She originally joined the Gauchos as a women’s basketball coach having spent over a decade coaching Division I women’s basketball from coast to coast.
 
She began her work in college athletics as a graduate assistant with the University of New Hampshire’s men’s and women’s basketball programs. An educator at heart, this role helped her discover a passion for serving and supporting student-athletes throughout their collegiate journey.
 
The Alton, New Hampshire native and Hall of Famer at Coe-Brown Northwood Academy was a collegiate student-athlete at Keene State College, ranking second all-time in assists. She is a service-oriented and a fierce advocate for collegiate athletics role in serving student-athletes and connecting campuses and communities.