What we know about the process to find Mitch Barnhart’s replacement as UK AD
The first step in the search for Kentucky’s next athletic director is listening.
In announcing Mitch Barnhart’s retirement Tuesday, UK President Eli Capilouto provided few specifics about what is next for the department, but he hinted at what appears to be a methodical approach to find Barnhart’s successor.
“Over the next several weeks, as I have done before during a hiring process, I will conduct a listening tour,” Capilouto wrote in a letter sent to UK faculty, staff and students. “As I make a decision regarding leadership in UK Athletics, I want to talk with people on campus and off it about priorities, the landscape of college athletics and the attributes we will need as we prepare for a future that will continue to dramatically change.”
This will be Capilouto’s first search for an athletic director as UK president. He was hired at UK in 2011, nine years into Barnhart’s tenure.
The search process for Barnhart’s predecessor will instead follow the format Capilouto has used for other high-profile university hires who report directly to him. Since Barnhart will remain in the position through June, the pressure to make a quick hire is diminished.
“That provides ample time to conduct a thoughtful, deliberative search for the leadership that will help guide UK Athletics in the future,” Jay Blanton, UK’s vice president for public relations and strategic communications, told the Herald-Leader in a statement in response for a request for more information about the listening tour.
Capilouto’s listening tour will include conversations with people on and off campus, Blanton said. He plans to speak with contacts in college athletics, the sports industry and elsewhere about the changing landscape in college sports resulting from the NCAA’s House legal settlement.
Barnhart and other UK administrators have been clear that the department needs to find new sources of revenue to account for the added cost of distributing $20.5 million in revenue to athletes each year. The NCAA and newly formed College Sports Commission have struggled to enforce guidelines around player eligibility, transfer portal recruiting and name, image and likeness (NIL) endorsement deals.
“(Capilouto) will gather thoughts on the attributes that people believe we need in leadership, which will help us build on the undeniable foundation established by Mitch and teams over many years,” Blanton said. “President Capilouto has broad and deep contacts throughout higher education and athletics as well, so he can tap deep expertise and understanding of college athletics as he considers the next steps for UK and our program.”
It seems unlikely Capilouto will make the decision unilaterally.
UK created Champions Blue, a nonprofit LLC to manage the athletic department, last year. Four UK administrators, including Capilouto, serve on the Champions Blue Board of Governors alongside three outside subject matter experts from the sports industry. The Champions Blue board still reports to the UK Board of Trustees athletics committee.
JMI Sports, UK’s multimedia rights marketing partner, is now tasked with running UK’s in-house NIL collective and has played an active role in the planning process for the new fan entertainment districts around Kroger Field and Memorial Coliseum. Eric Monday, UK’s vice president for finance and administration, has taken on a more visible presence in athletics since the Champions Blue transition.
The list of people involved in the search process for UK’s next athletic director does not involve Barnhart, Blanton said.
Barnhart will continue to be employed by the university as the executive in residence at a newly created UK Sport and Workforce Initiative, but his responsibilities in the new position do not involve the athletic department. After initially telling the Herald-Leader Tuesday morning Barnhart’s $950,000 salary for that position would be paid by the university, the school reversed course later in the day and said Barnhart would continue to be paid by the athletic department.
“I will be the loudest, cheering from the stands and supporting our coaches and athletes,” Barnhart said in the news release announcing his retirement. “I love the men and women that represent Kentucky, that won’t change in any way, shape or form.”