Mitch Barnhart needs to answer

it is absolutely ASININE that in the NIL era, we are paying $1million to a retired athletic director for a position that does not exist. For what? As a thank you for everything he did? It is complete and utter bullshit. The issue runs all the way to the top, Capiluto needs to go. This is an abject failure and embarrassment. That money coming out of the Athletic budget is a GM salary or a very good player. But hey, whatever keeps the gang of good oles boys happy. Make sure their pockets are getting lined. bullshit.

Mitch's corruption would make most politicians blush

I saw Brett Setzer tweeted about it. Good!! This is absolutely dirty.

Seeing this makes me sick. This man didn’t make enough over his career? How long is this contract for? Corruption anyone? Can a new president come in and void this ridiculous contract?

Scottyydee24 said:

Seeing this makes me sick. This man didn’t make enough over his career? How long is this contract for? Corruption anyone? Can a new president come in and void this ridiculous contract?

You're totally right and the more it sits with me the more it makes me sick and disheartened. How could the university allow this? What does it say about who's running it?

Ridiculous. 🤬

He did do a lot of good…for the non revenue sports. Just insane for Kentucky to paying $1 million. Ridiculous. The university doesn’t care about the fans.

Hot take: IF the media hits hard at this press conference on Friday, I think Mitch takes a lesser salary or just retires come June 30th. But, it’s imperative the media makes it known this isn’t wise spending as UK Athletics just took a loan from the university to cover expenses during this transitional time.

He also gets 10 free tickets to athletic events(if I read that correctly). Did he not make enough that he has to have free tickets to games?

It’s serious and not an overreaction imo. This is truly shady and corrupt.

Media needs to hammer this.

Also shows how tone deaf this admin (athletics and academics) is… to release this? Put him as a special advisor at JMI or something and funnel the money but just coming out with it is ridiculous.

There are so many growing questions about Mitch. JMI contract, two different lawsuits related to ignoring sexual harassment in athletics, and now this joke of a job with an insane contract. Pope hire looking rough, Cal suggesting Mitch was part of the problem at the end.

BPwildcat said:

There are so many growing questions about Mitch. JMI contract, two different lawsuits related to ignoring sexual harassment in athletics, and now this joke of a job with an insane contract. Pope hire looking rough, Cal suggesting Mitch was part of the problem at the end.

Cal was right.

capernicus41 said:

I saw Brett Setzer tweeted about it. Good!! This is absolutely dirty.

Setzer's public criticism of this is eye-opening. He was the top football booster for most of Mitch's tenure. His plane was the one that picked up Will Stein to bring him to his intro presser.

NickRoush said:

Setzer's public criticism of this is eye-opening. He was the top football booster for most of Mitch's tenure. His plane was the one that picked up Will Stein to bring him to his intro presser.

Is it though? Wealthy people become wealthy by making wise financial decisions. Paging a former AD to be AD Emeritus $1M a year is stupidity.

Mitch continues to hold this university back with his corruption

It’s just such a slap in the face to fans. They knew that this would get a ton a criticism, but they probably thought if they gave him a made up role we would go along with it.

In 2023, Mitch was extended with an option to step down after July 1st, 2026 that comes with a $800k reduced salary. So technically it was in his contract but somehow got an extra 200k.

KENTucky_McK said:

In 2023, Mitch was extended with an option to step down after July 1st, 2026 that comes with a $800k reduced salary. So technically it was in his contract but somehow got an extra 200k.

Damn Inflation. Thanks a lot (insert President you dislike).

KENTucky_McK said:

In 2023, Mitch was extended with an option to step down after July 1st, 2026 that comes with a $800k reduced salary. So technically it was in his contract but somehow got an extra 200k.

His contract had two years at 800k a year, so a 1.6 million dollar commitment. Instead, he got a million dollar signing bonus, and 4 years at 950k a year plus perks. So a 5 million dollar deal. They didn’t just sweeten the pot, they more than doubled it.

Mark Stoops Burner said:

I hope some media are planning on attending Fridays media availability and asking him the hard questions. This million dollar salary coming from UK athletics budget is ridiculous in the NIL/Revenue sharing era. This man is a leach and needs to face real public scrutiny

UK Athletics just had to take out a LOAN from the unversity due to rev share, and now they’re basically paying a guy $1,000,000 a year from the athletics budget that doesn’t even work there?

BG Wildcat said:

His contract had two years at 800k a year, so a 1.6 million dollar commitment. Instead, he got a million dollar signing bonus, and 4 years at 950k a year plus perks. So a 5 million dollar deal. They didn’t just sweeten the pot, they more than doubled it.

That’s insane. Robbery and greed in the face of the state of Ky and UK.