The University of Kentucky’s longtime athletic director will retire in June, the university announced Tuesday.
After 24 years and six national championships, Mitch Barnhart will step down.
According to UK President Eli Capilouto, Barnhart will stay at the university, becoming the first in-residence executive of the Sports and Workforce Initiative.
More details about that effort will be announced in the weeks to come, Capilouto said.
“After thoughtful discussions,” Capilouto said, “I am gratified that he has agreed to stay on and write another new and exciting chapter.”
According to an amended contract provided by the university, Barnhart will step down as athletic director on June 30. He will be paid $950,000 a year through 2030. His current salary is $1.4 million.
Capilouto said a search would begin for Barnhart’s successor in the next several weeks and said he would conduct a listening tour.
“There is time ahead for that period of listening,” Capilouto said. “Today, we should pause to recognize and reflect on what Mitch Barnhart has meant to UK – not only athletics – but our entire community and the world of college sports.”
Barnhart was hired in 2002 by then-president Lee Todd. He took over a UK athletic program roiled by NCAA violations in its football program under his predecessor, Larry Ivy.
UK athletes graduate at a rate of 93%, up from 68% 20 years ago. Seven administrators and coaches who worked for Barnhart at UK have gone on to become Division I athletic directors.
“I’m not sure there’s ever a finish line for leaders,” Barnhart said. “You get to a spot where you finish one job and the next one starts and then the next task and the next task and the next task. At some point you have to say the baton is someone else’s to carry.
Barnhart came to UK from Oregon State, where he served as athletic director for four years. Barnhart is a native of Kansas City, Kansas.
Barnhart’s current salary places him above Capilouto, who makes slightly more than $1 million a year. Compared with the coaches in his program, he’s paid less.
William Stein, the head football coach, is paid $5.5 million, according to his contract. Mark Pope, the men’s basketball coach, is paid $5 million.
Kenny Brooks, the women’s basketball coach, is paid $1.4 million.
In 2024, Barnhart was named in a lawsuit against the university. Two former collegiate swimmers accused a former swimming coach of sexual harassment and sexual abuse.
The former coach, Lars Jorgensen, resigned in 2023. His trial is scheduled in January in U.S. District Court in Lexington. The university, Barnhart and Jorgensen have denied wrongdoing.
