Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart will begin his 24th season as the leader of Wildcat athletics when the 2025-26 school year begins in August. Despite the long run in Lexington, the 65-year-old has never been the longest-tenure administrator in college atheltics.
That will change soon.
Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione, 67, will retire during the 2025-26 academic calendar. That will make Mitch Barnhart both the longest-tenured athletic director in the SEC and in the NCAA.
Stability has been key throughout University of Kentucky athletics under Barnhart. John Calipari lasted 15 seasons under Barnhart. Mark Stoops (13th season) is the longest-tenured sitting head football coach in the SEC. Nick Mingione (10th season), Craig Skinner (21st season), and Rachel Lawson (19th season) have held their positions for at least a decade under Barnhart.
During his tenure, Kentucky has won a national championship in basketball (2012), volleyball (2020), and four rifle titles (2011, 2018, 2021, and 2022). Programs made the school’s first-ever College World Series appearance in softball (2014) and baseball (2024). There have been two ranked finishes in football (2018 and 2021). The track and field program has produced multiple Olympic athletes. Meanwhile, recent hires Kenny Brooks (women’s basketball) and Mark Pope (men’s basketball) just finished off outstanding debut seasons.
As Kentucky — and the rest of college athletics — adjusts to the revenue-sharing era, the Cats will have stability on their side thanks to Barnhart. The long-term athletic director was responsible for the recent creation of the Champions Blue, LLC. that will help the university find more revenue and create a needed apparatus in case athletes ever need to be made employees.
Things won’t stop changing but Mitch Barnhart is still here. The administration veteran will continue to lead Kentucky athletics.
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