UPDATE: March 4 at 11 a.m.
LEX 18 obtained an amended employment contract from the university that extends Mitch Barnhart contract at the university from June 30, 2028 to August 31, 2030.
The contract was put into effect on March 2 and added that on July 1, Barnhart will begin serving as Executive in Residence for the UK Sports and Workforce Initiative, studying and promoting UK sports.
Barnhart will be paid $950,000 for each contract year. He will also receive a $650,000 retention bonus for the remainder of his Athletics Director contract ending June 30th, 2026.
Original Story:
University of Kentucky Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart is expected to announce his retirement, LEX 18 has learned. Barnhart has served as UK's athletic director since 2002 — a tenure of 24 years — making him the longest-serving AD in the any power four conference, including the Southeastern Conference.
“Mitch Barnhart has led University of Kentucky Athletics for nearly a quarter-century,” UK President Doctor Eli Capilouto said. “It is with a profound mix of emotions that we announce Mitch will be leaving his position as UK Athletics Director at the end of June.
He is the university's 10th athletics director, succeeding Larry Ivy when he was hired in 2002.
“Mitch often speaks of the idea that our goal at UK is for student-athletes to place championship rings on their fingers and diplomas in their hands," Capilouto added. "“Those aren’t mere words. They are aspirations that he continually has helped our program, our people and our students meet.”
Barnhart is set to take on a new role at the university, UK President Doctor Eli Capilouto announced.
“After thoughtful discussions, I am gratified that he has agreed to stay on and write another new and exciting chapter,” Capilouto said. “Mitch will be the first executive-in-residence of the UK Sport and Workforce Initiative. This initiative will be part of a workforce effort that I mentioned in my remarks recently to the Board of Trustees and that I will be announcing more details about in the coming weeks.
Capilouto continued, "College athletics is undergrowing a dramatic series of changes. We need people – from sports administration, to marketing, from philanthropy to academic support and mental and physical health – ready for leadership. Mitch is distinctly equipped to help us think about the future of intercollegiate sports. I am excited he accepted my offer to take on this new role.”
According to his university bio, under Barnhart's leadership, UK Athletics has earned six NCAA championships: men's basketball (2012), volleyball (2020), and rifle (2011, 2018, 2021, 2022).
UK Athletics placed in the top 20 of the NACDA Directors' Cup standings from 2017 to 2023, excluding 2020. The program's 9 best finishes have all come during Barnhart's tenure, including a school-record 9th place in 2021-22.
Barnhart has also played a significant role in shaping the future of college athletics. He is one of 10 athletics directors on the Settlement Implementation Committee, guiding the national rollout of the House case settlement.
"Ten years of work in ten months," Barnhart said.
Barnhart's accomplishments have earned him personal recognition as well. In 2022, he was inducted into the Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame and received the John L. Toner Award from the National Football Foundation for excellence in athletics administration. He was also named the 2019 Division I AD of the Year by SportsBusiness Journal. In June 2023, he was ranked No. 1 on a list of the "12 Most Important People in the Southeastern Conference" by columnist Pat Dooley.
“I’m so thankful that Dr. Capilouto is providing a ‘what’s next’ after leaving this position and we can have an impact another way. It will matter to the University, it will matter to our department, it will matter to Kentucky. I’m super appreciative of this opportunity. My love for this place is overflowing,” Barnhart stated.
Mark Pope reacted to the news of Barnhart's retirement stating:
Words alone can't express how grateful I am for Mitch Barnhart. For his faith, friendship and leadership at Kentucky, and for the impact he’s had across college athletics, which has been transformational. For sure I'm sad to see him step away at year’s end, but incredibly thankful for his service and glad he's sticking around on campus. Time to make these next few weeks an even more special time together.
Big Blue Nation is having mixed emotions about Barnhart's retirement after 24 years as the program's leader; fans acknowledged both the highs and lows of his tenure.
"He brought a lot of good and he brought a lot of bad," said UK student Jaden Wagner. "He recruited a lot of good coaches, brought a great program to what Lexington has."
Others were more critical of recent years.
"A childhood of greatness and a college of misery. Being a senior here, I'd say probably the four worst years of a college of UK Athletics in the past, you know, few decades," Max Dees, another student said.
Despite frustrations, many fans acknowledged Barnhart's broader impact.
"Kentucky fans are impatient and rightfully so, we put a lot of interest in the university and we put a lot of our time and effort into following the university," said Boyd Wells.
"Even with the fizzle or the flatness of the last couple of years, he's still overall a very positive impact on the Commonwealth," Wells added.
Fans also praised Barnhart's investment in programs beyond football and basketball.
"He not only put an emphasis on our major programs, football, basketball, but like Boyd said, particularly baseball and volleyball, bringing up and investing in other sports besides the big two, was amazing, and so kudos to him," Coy Flowers chimed in.
"When you look at Howard Park now and you see Barnhart's name, you know there's a personal interest in making sure that Kentucky is known for baseball,” Flowers said. “When you look at across Appalachia and poor kids in eastern Kentucky and other places, those kids are swinging the bat, they're catching the ball, and they're hoping to work themselves out of poverty. Mitch Barnhart knows that, and it's important for Kentucky," another fan said.
Whether it's Barnhart's off-the-field or on-the-field impact, the standard stays the same.
"Successful programs over the course of decades should have a level of expectation, not only of themselves, but from the fan base," Flowers said.
As for what fans want in the next athletics director, the message was clear.
"The next AD needs to be exciting. Think outside the box, keep us guessing, have a little bit of mystery, but make it successful," Flowers concluded.
"Somebody who knows what they're doing in this evolving landscape of college sports," Wells said.
