LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – One of the University of Kentucky’s top athletics donors is urging the school to reverse a deal that will keep outgoing Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart on the payroll in a newly created role, calling the arrangement “deeply misguided” and a troubling signal to fans, athletes and other contributors.
In a March 23 letter to UK President Eli Capilouto, Brett T. Setzer criticized the university’s plan to move Barnhart into an executive position “without even a formal job description,” describing the salary and terms as excessive and unclear.
The letter surfaced as the university announced Tuesday that Barnhart is retiring as athletics director at the end of June after a 24-year tenure that began in 2002, making him the longest-tenured athletics director in the Power Four conferences. Kentucky teams won six NCAA team national championships during his tenure…