Kentucky Wildcats fans and media took to Twitter on Thursday afternoon to discuss the developing news: UK Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart will no longer step into his new role, as he will fully depart on June 30th.
Barnhart was still going to be involved with the program, with the addition of nearly a $1 million salary, so UK President Eli Capilouto decided that now is not the time for Barnhart to step into this role, as the school will head in another direction.
President Capilouto released a statement on the breaking news regarding Barnhart’s future. “Mitch Barnhart came to me earlier this week to share his concern that the discussion surrounding his future role leading our sports workforce initiative has become a distraction from the work ongoing at our university.” The current UK president said.
“Mitch and his family care deeply about this institution and our state, and they want the focus to return to the work that matters for our students and the Commonwealth,” Capliouto said.
Overall, social media had a lot of interesting thoughts regarding Barnhart’s resignation in the new role. Check out what Kentucky fans and media had to say below.
BREAKING: University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto announces via press release Mitch Barnhart will be backing out of his proposed role following the end of his time as AD.“Mitch has informed me that he will retire from his position of Athletics Director on June 30 and… pic.twitter.com/2O8LMDwjAv
The @universityofky coming for their golden parachute. 🪂 https://t.co/Kh3zG8wjjr pic.twitter.com/tMJZrRA0SJ
The lesson of the end of Calipari and Barnhart is oddly the same (even though they weren’t friendly). When you start to be dismissive of, or ignore the fans and their concerns, it usually is the beginning of the end
The Mitch Barnhart / Andy Beshear saga in a nutshell pic.twitter.com/GNGYaXFiWC
— WT – Mo D Enthusiast (@WildcatsTongue) April 23, 2026
Barnhart did many great things for Kentucky, but it was crazy to think there wouldn’t be massive pushback on his post-retirement gig. https://t.co/AENGfJntA7
Mitch Barnhart — July 1st, 2026 pic.twitter.com/tscBr76O3N
— WT – Mo D Enthusiast (@WildcatsTongue) April 23, 2026
Common sense should have taken care of this, but I’ll settle for public pressure.The most embarrassing part is that Barnhart still hasn’t come out and admitted this is not good for the university. His only real defense, while implying the deal was justified, was to say he… https://t.co/0ulFZ5ZO6o
Capilouto’s statement includes some info on how Barnhart WILL be compensated for his “departure” via private fundsFWIW, Barnhart signed an extension in 2023 with a “special assistant” clause, which could have paid $800,000 starting this summer. Hindsight is 20/20? https://t.co/0ZLXcDC9tF pic.twitter.com/YUw771hVwV
Weird for him to step away from a completely justified job because of just a few knuckleheadsEspecially when it was clear he wasn’t eating hay https://t.co/9W8GMdpIok
Mitch Barnhart executed the “What did the 5 fingers say to the face?” joke. A lil time went by, nothing happened. Everything seemed cool. Then UK (and a whole lotta other people) deemed that he had got outta line and proceeded to come check him. #BBN #IYKYK pic.twitter.com/ltNbQ47bYM
Knuckleheads 1, Mitch Barnhart 0 https://t.co/evodXn6UdF
I will say that I think Mitch Barnhart was the best AD Kentucky has had in my lifetime. The Athletic Department was better for his workBut the deal on the way out was ridiculous and the decision to end it, the correct one
Overall Mitch Barnhart did an awesome job at UK. The good significantly outweighs the bad. But I am excited for a fresh athletic department.