How Will Stein reacted to his boss retiring before first practice at Kentucky
Will Stein is still more than five months from his first game as Kentucky football coach. He did not lead his first practice until Tuesday.
But Stein is already preparing to work for a new boss only three months into the job after UK athletic director Mitch Barnhart announced last week that he’ll retire this summer.
“I think it took a lot of people by surprise,” Stein said Tuesday morning. “But like I told Mitch, his career is, I would say, legendary for the University of Kentucky. … Anybody that’s here for that long is doing something right. He’s got six national championships to his name, countless All-Americans, All-SEC.
“He’s a legendary person here, and I’m just really happy for him. He’s moving on to a new chapter in his life, so I think we all just got to support that.”
Barnhart’s decision makes Stein the last coach he hired in his 24 years in charge of UK athletics.
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While Barnhart will remain at the university as the executive in residence for the UK’s newly created Sport and Workforce Initiative, he will no longer have direct involvement in the management of the athletic department.
At a retirement celebration Friday, Barnhart said he would not be involved in the search for his replacement and was OK with UK hiring someone who will run the department differently than he has.
What does that mean for the football coach Barnhart just hired?
“Like I told him, too, when I left Oregon, what happened? The show rolled on,” Stein said. “They hired Drew Mehringer (as offensive coordinator). They’re still playing football there.
“Here, Mitch, his show is rolling on, and a new opportunity. We’re still going to be playing football and basketball and women’s tennis and everything. So it’s the circle of life. Let’s not get too hung up on it and just be excited and be excited about Kentucky football.”
Men’s basketball coach Mark Pope, women’s basketball coach Kenny Brooks and baseball coach Nick Mingione all included clauses in their most recent contracts that reduce the amount they would owe UK to leave for another job if Barnhart is no longer the athletic director. Stein’s first UK deal does not include that same language.
UK finalized Stein’s first contract in February.
It pays him $28.6 million over five years. If Stein leaves UK for another job, he would owe the school 30% of his remaining salary through the end of his contract, regardless of who is athletic director at the time.
While Barnhart’s 2023 contract extension included a clause that would allow him to transition to a university ambassador role in July 2026, he did not discuss the possibility of a looming retirement with Stein in the interview process, Stein said.
“You just roll with the punches, man,” Stein said. “I’m a football coach. This is a sudden change. Shoot, we just got a sack/TFL on defense, and our offense is back on the field. I’m on the plus-45, and we’re ready to take a shot and score a touchdown. So that’s all I’m worried about.”
This story was originally published March 10, 2026 at 11:43 AM.