Kentucky’s long-running athletic director saga is finally moving toward the finish line, but the handoff from Mitch Barnhart to J Batt is going to cost the school plenty on both ends.
Barnhart’s exit comes with a retirement settlement worth $3.2 million, according to Lexington Herald Leader reporter Jon Hale. The payment stems from Barnhart’s decision to walk away from his original plan to move into a university administration role, and UK spokesman Jay Blanton said in a statement, “The agreement executed with Mr. Barnhart will be paid for with private funds, raised by President Capilouto,”
That settlement is smaller than the amount Barnhart was set to receive in the original deal that drew so much criticism earlier this year. It also comes without the courtesy vehicles and tickets. Under the new arrangement, Barnhart’s remaining responsibilities will be part-time, and the money will be paid out in annual installments beginning in 2027 and again in 2029.
Those checks will arrive at $760,000 per year, followed by a final severance payment of $780,000 on December 31, 2029.
Batt’s arrival is even more expensive in a different way. Kentucky announced that he will start July 28 as CEO of Champions Blue LLC and UK Athletics Director, and the school will pay Michigan State $3.95 million to get him out of his contract. That figure had previously been expected to be $2.5 million, but Michigan State president Kevin Guskiewicz backed out of a deal with Clemson that would have sent him to the Tigers, and that changed the buyout picture.
So Kentucky ends up paying to close one chapter and open another. After too many delays and complications, the move from Barnhart to Batt is official.
In Other News...
Will Steins First Kentucky Season Just Got Even More Brutal
Will Steins first season in Lexington is already shaping up to be a grind, and the early read on Kentuckys 2026 slate only sharpens that reality. ESPN FPI has the Wildcats at No. 4 in the country for schedule difficulty, a brutal backdrop for a coach trying to establish a new identity while navigating a league schedule loaded with Alabama, Texas A&M, South Carolina and a long list of other familiar SEC headaches.
The challenge is obvious, but so is the reason for some optimism around the program. Stein has already started to build momentum on the recruiting trail, including a promising 2027 class, and his track record at Oregon gives Kentucky reason to believe the long-term picture can improve even if the short-term road is steep. The question now is how much patience the Wildcats will need if the results in year one get tested by one of the toughest slates in the sport. [Read more 🡒]
Mark Pope Just Added Fuel To Kentuckys Biggest Rotation Debate
Trent Noahs sophomore season at Kentucky never quite got off the ground the way some around the program expected, with his shooting wavering even as his rebounding and defensive effort continued to stand out. John Calipari had already pointed to Noahs impact on that end of the floor during preseason camp, and the conversation around him has only grown louder as fans debate how much run he should get this season, especially with the Wildcats looking for reliable help at the two spot.
Mark Popes latest comments only sharpened the discussion. He has been openly impressed with Noah through the first month of camp and sees a player whose value goes well beyond the box score, which is exactly why the rotation question has become so interesting. The remaining issue is whether Noah can make enough progress as a shooter and defender to turn all that praise into a real, every-night role. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Just Entered A Massive Battle For A Surging Elite Guard
Kentucky has jumped into the mix for one of the fastest-rising guards in the 2027 class, extending a scholarship offer to NaVarro Bowman Jr. after his recent surge on the national stage. The point guard helped lead the USA U17 National team to a gold medal, and his profile has only grown as major programs across the country continue to circle.
Bowmans recruitment is still in its early stages, but the list of suitors is already starting to look like a heavyweight fight. He is lining up official visits to Arizona and Texas, with North Carolina and Illinois also in the mix, giving Kentucky an immediate chance to make up ground in a race that figures to stay crowded for a while. [Read more 🡒]