Just days after announcing he will retire as Kentucky’s athletic director, Mitch Barnhart addressed the media Friday to discuss his decision and what comes next for the university’s athletics department.
Barnhart confirmed earlier this week that he will step down from his role as athletic director in June and transition into a new position within the university focused on supporting student-athlete success and graduation initiatives.
During Friday’s press conference, two comments from Barnhart stood
out as he discussed the future of Kentucky athletics.
First, Barnhart made it clear he will not be involved in selecting the next athletic director. While he said he would offer input if asked, he emphasized that the decision ultimately belongs to university leadership.
“I am not going to pick my successor, that is not my role,” Mitch Barnhart said on Friday during his press conference. “This is the University’s search, and I will not be involved in it if they ask my advice or ask for my opinion; I’m glad to give it, but this is the president’s search, and it is his search.
“In terms of being around, I was always appreciative when I got advice. I should have listened to some other advice when I first came here. People gave me advice, I’m smarter than that, I got this. I made some mistakes. I will sit to the side, and if people want my advice, I am glad to help, but this is going to be their program, not mine.”
“They don’t need Mitch Barnhart 2.0. They don’t,” Barnhart added. “They need their own version of what’s best for them and what they think is best for this program. I’m good with that.”
UK President Eli Capilouto says that they will begin to search for a new Athletic Director with a listening tour and will consider candidates inside and outside the program.
