Barnhart to retire

[Matt Dillon]

While he gets a lot of crap, Mitch did a lot of really good things for the program, amongst some bad things too. But overall, much more good than bad. Anyone that runs something for 24 years is going to have good and bad. He took over a hot mess that Larry Ivy left and really elevated UK from a basketball only school to a really solid all around athletic program. The biggest issue with Mitch is college athletics has passed him by. It's time for a change, but to act like his tenure at UK was all doom and gloom is far from the truth.

Mitch has been good at raising money for the school as well. Adm types like Pres. C. really like that.

[bthaunert]

Mitch has been good at raising money for the school as well. Adm types like Pres. C. really like that.

I've always said that Mitch is a president's dream as an AD.

• Doesn't need any money from the university as UK is one of very few schools that are self-funded
• Gives millions back to the university annually
• Gave $60 million for the construction of the science building
• Pretty much falls in line with what the university wants
• Until very recently, had a 20+ year run of not being on probation
• Raised the academic profile of the athletic department significantly

While a lot of this stuff isn't important to the day-to-day fan, it's very important to the president and BOT

[largebluej]

While he gets a lot of crap, Mitch did a lot of really good things for the program, amongst some bad things too. But overall, much more good than bad. Anyone that runs something for 24 years is going to have good and bad. He took over a hot mess that Larry Ivy left and really elevated UK from a basketball only school to a really solid all around athletic program. The biggest issue with Mitch is college athletics has passed him by. It's time for a change, but to act like his tenure at UK was all doom and gloom is far from the truth.

What you said. Mitch Barnhart is the best AD in UK history and second place is not even close. It was also time for him to go. Both parts can be true at the same time and not detract from each other.

[Cawood86]

While he gets a lot of crap, Mitch did a lot of really good things for the program, amongst some bad things too. But overall, much more good than bad. Anyone that runs something for 24 years is going to have good and bad. He took over a hot mess that Larry Ivy left and really elevated UK from a basketball only school to a really solid all around athletic program. The biggest issue with Mitch is college athletics has passed him by. It's time for a change, but to act like his tenure at UK was all doom and gloom is far from the truth.

He hired Billy G and Joker. Two massive fails. He kept Cal and Stoops too long.

I never said he was a complete failure at all. He did hire Cal and Stoops who both did very well at times. Baseball has done well. Women's basketball is doing better. It is time though.

[Matt Dillon]

He hired Billy G and Joker. Two massive fails. He kept Cal and Stoops too long.

I never said he was a complete failure at all. He did hire Cal and Stoops who both did very well at times. Baseball has done well. Women's basketball is doing better. It is time though.

Apparently Lee Todd was responsible for the Gillispie hire (see the thread on that).

[Trueblujr]

I've always said that Mitch is a president's dream as an AD.

• Doesn't need any money from the university as UK is one of very few schools that are self-funded
• Gives millions back to the university annually
• Gave $60 million for the construction of the science building
• Pretty much falls in line with what the university wants
• Until very recently, had a 20+ year run of not being on probation
• Raised the academic profile of the athletic department significantly

While a lot of this stuff isn't important to the day-to-day fan, it's very important to the president and BOT

Seems like in the new age of College Sports now, that some of that "giving back" to the University will need to be looked at. That $60 million for the new Science building could go a loooooong way towards building a high level football program.

[bthaunert]

He hired Billy G and Joker. Two massive fails. He kept Cal and Stoops too long.

I never said he was a complete failure at all. He did hire Cal and Stoops who both did very well at times. Baseball has done well. Women's basketball is doing better. It is time though.

Agree that it's time. He had a couple of bad hires as you say. Thankfully they were shown the door pretty quick. His biggest weaknesses were his inability to connect with the common fan, his digging his heels in around things he was determined to ne right about and his contracts. That last one is mind-boggling to me. He screwed himself with the Cal and Stoops buyouts, and then puts a provision in Pope's contract that it's automatically extended a year if he makes the Sweet 16. He was abysmal at contracts.

[bthaunert]

Seems like in the new age of College Sports now, that some of that "giving back" to the University will need to be looked at. That $60 million for the new Science building could go a loooooong way towards building a high level football program.

The $60 million was always an interesting thing....and actually a pretty good move at the time. The university wasn't going to allow him to use any bond debt capacity for athletic facilities, so he agreed to pay $2 million/year on the bond debt of the science center for 30 years in order for the BOT to approve using bond money for athletic facilities.

Genius at the time, but as you say, would be nice to have that $2 million annually.

[Cawood86]

Apparently Lee Todd was responsible for the Gillispie hire (see the thread on that).

Wow, I wasn't aware of that.

[Cawood86]

Agree that it's time. He had a couple of bad hires as you say. Thankfully they were shown the door pretty quick. His biggest weaknesses were his inability to connect with the common fan, his digging his heels in around things he was determined to ne right about and his contracts. That last one is mind-boggling to me. He screwed himself with the Cal and Stoops buyouts, and then puts a provision in Pope's contract that it's automatically extended a year if he makes the Sweet 16. He was abysmal at contracts.

Agree. Do you have someone you would like to see get the position?. I'm really hopeful they fit someone who's innovative to today's sportsworld.

[bthaunert]

Agree. Do you have someone you would like to see get the position?. I'm really hopeful they fit someone who's innovative to today's sportsworld.

An off the radar guy I actually really like is the current AD at Utah State, Cam Walker. He's only been there for a year, but prior to that he was the Senior Deputy AD at Tennessee from 2021-2025. His responsibilities included direct oversite of NIL, the sport administrator for both football and basketball and oversaw the athletic department foundation during his time at UT. I think Danny White at UT is a really good AD with a vision for future of and Walker is a clone of him.

[Cawood86]

An off the radar guy I actually really like is the current AD at Utah State, Cam Walker. He's only been there for a year, but prior to that he was the Senior Deputy AD at Tennessee from 2021-2025. His responsibilities included direct oversite of NIL, the sport administrator for both football and basketball and oversaw the athletic department foundation during his time at UT. I think Danny White at UT is a really good AD with a vision for future of and Walker is a clone of him.

I like the sounds of that. Innovative. Do you or have you heard who might be a candidate? Any chance this guy gets a look?

[fastkat]

His biggest weaknesses were his inability to connect with the common fan,

I'll disagree with that until my dying day. He may not have done social media but in my experience if you emailed him you got a response from someone in his office. Just to make a long story short I had an issue with my football tickets I emailed Mitch and within a couple hours I had a phone call from one of the assistant AD's and my problem was fixed. I almost lost the tickets that I had for (at the time) 35 years and they put me in better seats. So other than his failure to get on board with NIL I have nothing bad to say about Mitch.

[bthaunert]

I like the sounds of that. Innovative. Do you or have you heard who might be a candidate? Any chance this guy gets a look?

I doubt he's a candidate. I would assume the candidates are those with ties to UK and a couple of internal ones. I'm sure they will look outside of the UK connection, I just don't think they will go there.

[bthaunert]

I'll disagree with that until my dying day. He may not have done social media but in my experience if you emailed him you got a response from someone in his office. Just to make a long story short I had an issue with my football tickets I emailed Mitch and within a couple hours I had a phone call from one of the assistant AD's and my problem was fixed. I almost lost the tickets that I had for (at the time) 35 years and they put me in better seats. So other than his failure to get on board with NIL I have nothing bad to say about Mitch.

I can almost guarantee you that Mitch never even saw that email. He has someone that filters his emails and that got sent directly to the person that oversees that area. Not saying that's not a very efficient way to handle the situation, but I highly doubt it ever made it to MItch's desk. Having worked in higher education for the last 25 years, individuals in those positions often have someone to parcel out emails that shouldn't take the time of a VP/President.

My biggest issue is things like taking away more parking around football over and over again not giving the everyday fan a tailgating experience. Only having giveaways at the men's basketball game for those that sit in the lower level. When alcohol was first offered at Kroger Field, only offering it to the areas where the donors are sitting...one seat over can't buy alcohol for what reason? Those are ways you lose the common fan.