Bartko Returns to Eugene

Some may remember him, some may not. He was an integral part of the athletic department for a time and was considered by many to be the man that saved the relationship between Oregon and Phil Knight. He worked at Oregon from 1998-2006; 2007-2014 in various roles.

It was only a matter of time before he got a chance to be in a bigger role as his star in the athletics department was a rising one; he went to Fresno State in 2014 as the athletic director. He left abruptly in November of last year following a separation which was allegedly fueled by addiction.

What came to light after his very public departure was an all too familiar refrain; molestation by a priest during his youth.

Bartko admitted this publicly after checking himself into a Tucson rehab facility. He has been working to try and put his life back together and has returned to Oregon to work with UO Advancement whose mission is to "build bridges between the UO and the community to further the university’s purpose of life-transforming education and world-class research."

We hope for Bartko that his sobriety, though it will always be a daily struggle, will hold and he will be able to bring some of the same energy and excitement to UO Advancement as he did the athletic department. This is a good fresh start for Bartko.

Some may remember him, some may not. He was an integral part of the athletic department for a time and was considered by many to be the man that saved the relationship between Oregon and Phil Knight. He worked at Oregon from 1998-2006; 2007-2014 in various roles.

It was only a matter of time before he got a chance to be in a bigger role as his star in the athletics department was a rising one; he went to Fresno State in 2014 as the athletic director. He left abruptly in November of last year following a separation which was allegedly fueled by addiction.

What came to light after his very public departure was an all too familiar refrain; molestation by a priest during his youth.

Bartko admitted this publicly after checking himself into a Tucson rehab facility. He has been working to try and put his life back together and has returned to Oregon to work with UO Advancement whose mission is to "build bridges between the UO and the community to further the university’s purpose of life-transforming education and world-class research."

We hope for Bartko that his sobriety, though it will always be a daily struggle, will hold and he will be able to bring some of the same energy and excitement to UO Advancement as he did the athletic department. This is a good fresh start for Bartko.