LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The University of Kentucky announced Thursday that Mitch Barnhart won't lead the university's new sports workforce initiative after his retirement as previously reported.
In a news release, UK President Eli Capilouto said Barnhart came to him earlier this week expressing his concern about criticism he's received on his future role of leading the university's sports workforce initiative, saying it had "become a distraction from the work of our university."
"Mitch and his family care deeply about this institution and our state, and they want the focus to return to the work that matters most for our students and the Commonwealth," Capilouto said.
Barnhart, 66, said in the release when he made the decision to retire there was excitement about creating the workforce initiative, aimed at helping the next generation of student-athletes. But on Thursday, he said now isn't the right time.
"Work has already begun on the Initiative but recently it has become apparent that now is not the right time, and we would never stand in the way of what we deem best," Barnhart said in the release.
Barnhart said he hopes the initiative will happen in the future. He will still retire as athletics director has expected June 30, ending a 24-year tenure that reshaped Kentucky athletics far beyond basketball.
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