Kentucky's Mitch Barnhart will retire in June after 24 years as athletic director

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Mitch Barnhart has served as Kentucky's AD since 2002. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
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Mitch Barnhart will retire in June after 24 years as Kentucky's athletic director, university president Eli Capilouto announced Tuesday.

"Mitch Barnhart has led University of Kentucky Athletics for nearly a quarter-century,” Capilouto said in the university's news release. "It is with a profound mix of emotions that we announce Mitch will be leaving his position as UK Athletics Director at the end of June.

"Mitch often speaks of the idea that our goal at UK is for student-athletes to place championship rings on their fingers and diplomas in their hands.

"Those aren’t mere words. They are aspirations that he continually has helped our program, our people and our students meet."

Barnhart is currently the longest-tenured power conference AD. During his stay, the men's basketball, volleyball and rifle teams have accounted for six total national championships.

Most notably, the men's hoops team went 38-2 in 2011-12 with Anthony Davis and Co. and won the NCAA tournament.


This story is being updated.

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