Mitch Barnhart Addresses Retirement Rumors, NIL Concerns, and the Future of Kentucky Athletics
As speculation swirls around his future, longtime Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart isn’t ready to call it a career just yet. While his contract includes a transition clause that could see him step into a special assistant role as early as July 2026, Barnhart made it clear in a recent interview that he’s still energized by the job - and not ready to walk away.
“I love competing. You know that,” Barnhart said. “I love this place with all my heart.”
That love has been on full display since he arrived in Lexington in 2002. Originally planning to stay six to eight years, Barnhart has now been at the helm for over two decades, overseeing one of the most successful and wide-ranging athletic department runs in school history. But with the option to begin transitioning out of the AD role after December 31, 2025 - just two weeks from now - questions about his future are fair game.
Barnhart didn’t offer a definitive answer, but he did offer perspective.
“When that day comes - and I don’t know when that is - I’ll sit down with my family and determine what’s best for us and, most importantly, what’s best for Kentucky,” he said.
Barnhart’s current contract runs through the 2027-28 academic year, but includes an “ambassador clause” that allows him to move into a special assistant to the president role starting in mid-2026, provided he gives six months’ notice. That puts the earliest decision point at the end of this month.
Until then, Barnhart’s focus remains on the present - and on winning.
“I’d like to win some more things,” he said. “The volleyball run has been a blast.
I’d like to win at some more things and see what we got. And I love our coaches.
We’ve got good people and they’re fun to work with.”
NIL Questions Linger Around JMI Partnership
Barnhart’s interview also touched on one of the more pressing - and controversial - issues in college sports right now: name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals. Specifically, Kentucky’s partnership with JMI Sports, the multimedia rights holder for the university, has drawn criticism from some corners of the recruiting world.
Recent reports suggested that JMI’s structured approach to NIL - particularly requiring recruits to sign away certain rights - may be playing a role in Kentucky basketball’s struggles on the recruiting trail. The concern? That players are being asked to give up opportunities they might have at other schools, where NIL arrangements are more flexible.
Barnhart pushed back on that narrative, defending both the JMI relationship and the flexibility student-athletes have to pursue their own deals.
“There’s some things that they’re opting into,” Barnhart explained. “And then there’s some things that we say, ‘Does this fit you?
Do you want us to go out and find you a deal?’ If it doesn’t, you’ve got your own thing - you’re not prohibited from doing your own thing.”
That autonomy, Barnhart emphasized, is already being exercised by athletes in various programs at Kentucky. The key distinction, he said, comes down to the use of school branding.
“They just can’t use our IP marks in that process,” he said. “Part of the ability to use the Kentucky marks, which we think is super valuable, is that relationship with JMI.”
In other words, if athletes want to leverage the power of the Kentucky brand in their NIL deals, they’re working within the JMI framework. But if they want to pursue independent deals without university branding, they’re free to do so.
Barnhart also said he’s not aware of any Kentucky athletes being denied NIL opportunities because a deal involved a competitor of a UK partner.
The broader NIL landscape remains a work in progress, and Barnhart acknowledged that. He spoke at length about the evolving roles of collectives, the importance of transparency in revenue-sharing, and how general managers are helping athletes navigate the new terrain. The university, he said, is trying to strike a balance between structure and freedom - a challenge every major program is grappling with right now.
What’s Next?
Whether Barnhart chooses to stay in his role through the end of his contract or transitions earlier under the ambassador clause, his legacy at Kentucky is already well-established. But as he made clear, he’s not done yet - and he’s still chasing wins.
“I like winning,” he said with a grin. “And I’d like to win some more.”
For now, the clock keeps ticking toward December 31. But Barnhart isn’t rushing the moment. He’s still showing up every day, still passionate about the job, and still committed to what’s next for Kentucky athletics - whatever shape that takes.