The athletic director’s job description is much different on the day Mitch Barnhart leaves office than the one he stepped into back in 2002. I’m not referring to the obvious either; J Batt will also hold the title “CEO of Champions Blue.” Before the college athletics model was completely upended, Barnhart had already transformed the Kentucky athletic department for the better (but some may argue otherwise).
The Old Guard
For the second half of the 20th century, a college athletic director was defined by the school’s biggest sport. In many instances, the person who led that program also led the entire athletic department. Pat Dye was Auburn’s AD for almost his entire 11-year tenure as the Tigers’ head football coach. Bo Schembechler served as the Michigan AD during his final years in Ann Arbor. Frank Broyles was the Arkansas head football coach for nearly 20 years, then the athletic director for 30 more.
At all of those aforementioned schools, football is the engine that drives the athletic department. When Kentucky hired CM Newton, a former player for Adolph Rupp who spent decades coaching in the SEC, the school made it clear that basketball was King. Newton embraced that so much that many football fans were furious when his name was slapped on Commonwealth Stadium.
The informal job description for the Kentucky athletic director was essentially “make sure the basketball program is good.” If the basketball team did well, fans generally gave the AD a positive approval rating.
Barnhart Tasked to Clean Up the Athletic Department
Newton oversaw a decade of dominance in basketball as Kentucky won two National Championships and advanced to four Final Fours. However, the culture behind the scenes had developed into a good ol’ boys club…