All articles tagged with #uk athletics
UK announced that J Batt will become the university’s athletic director and CEO of Champions Blue LLC, with a July 28 start date to replace Mitch Barnhart, who retires June 30 and will receive over $3 million in severance; Batt’s transition includes a Michigan State buyout totaling about $3.95 million through July 1, 2027, a figure affected by a previously discussed MSU–Clemson move that ultimately did not occur.
The University of Kentucky named J Batt the next Athletics Director and CEO of Champions Blue LLC, tapping a fundraising-driven leader with previous posts at Michigan State, Georgia Tech, and Alabama. Batt will officially join UK later this summer to succeed retiring Mitch Barnhart and help sustain the program’s championship standard in the evolving landscape of college sports.
Mitch Barnhart announced his retirement as UK’s athletic director but will take a new Executive in Residence role for the UK Sports and Workforce Initiative at a $950,000 annual salary through 2030, drawing booster and Governor Beshear scrutiny over duties and governance as a board meeting approaches.
A University of Kentucky booster sent a letter to President Eli Capilouto criticizing Mitch Barnhart’s newly created Executive in Residence post for the UK Sports and Workforce Initiative, calling the role inappropriate, costly, and lacking a formal job description, and demanding its reversal. The letter argues the deal could undervalue athletes and smaller programs, raises concerns about governance and transparency, and signals escalating internal backlash within UK leadership and donor circles.
UK Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart will retire in June after 24 years and move into the role of the first executive-in-residence for UK’s new UK Sport and Workforce Initiative, as the university begins a search for his successor and plans a listening tour to chart the program’s future.
Britain's men's 4x400-meter relay team was awarded the 1997 world championship gold medal after the U.S. team was disqualified due to doping, with the presentation taking place at London's Diamond League meeting, marking a long-awaited recognition for the athletes.
The NCAA's landmark settlement allowing direct payments to student-athletes and distributing $2.8 billion in NIL backpay from 2016 has been approved. UK Athletics, led by Mitch Barnhart, views this as a significant step forward, emphasizing their commitment to remain competitive despite increased expenses of $20-30 million annually. The university plans to adapt by increasing scholarships, participating in revenue sharing, and ensuring fair NIL deals, with support from the SEC and new oversight measures.
University of Kentucky's new head coach Mark Pope is holding his first news conference after being announced as the successor to former head coach John Calipari, following a highly publicized search for a new coach. Pope, a member of Kentucky's 1996 national championship team, previously served as the head coach at BYU and Utah Valley, and the news conference is streaming live on the UK Athletics website.