LEXINGTON, Ky. — Mitch Barnhart, the longest-serving athletic director in the Southeastern Conference, will retire in June and take on a new role at Kentucky, university president Eli Capilouto announced Tuesday.
“Mitch Barnhart has led University of Kentucky athletics for nearly a quarter century,” Capilouto said in a statement released by the university. Capilouto said he had “a deep mix of emotions” when announcing Barnhart's retirement.
“Mitch often talks about the idea that our goal at UK is for student-athletes to put championship rings on their fingers and diplomas on their hands,” Capilouto said. “Those are not just words. They are aspirations that he has continually helped our program, our people and our students fulfill.”
Barnhart, 66, was named Kentucky's 10th athletic director in 2002, succeeding Larry Ivy. Kentucky won six NCAA championships under Barnhart, including men's basketball in 2012. Barnhart previously served as athletic director at Oregon State from 1998 to 2002.
Capilouto said Barnhart accepted “another new and exciting chapter” as the first executive-in-residence of the UK Workforce and Sport Initiative.
“I'm not sure there's ever going to be a finish line for leaders,” Barnhart said. “You get to a point where you finish one job and the next job starts and then the next job and the next job and the next job. At some point you have to say the witness belongs to someone else.
“I am very grateful that Dr. Capilouto is providing insight into 'what's next' after leaving this position and that we can have an impact in another way. It will be important for the university, it will be important for our department, it will be important for Kentucky. I am very grateful for this opportunity. My love for this place is overflowing.”
Originally from Kansas City, Kansas, Barnhart earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Ottawa in Kansas and a master's degree in sports administration from Ohio University.
Barnhart is the second-longest serving athletic director among Power 4 schools, behind Oklahoma's Joe Castiglione, who plans to retire in 2028 after 27 years.
