After a 2018-19 season which has seen Kentucky excel in numerous team and individual sports, UK Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart has been named the national AD of The Year by The Sports Business Journal.
The honor was announced Wednesday night at the 12th annual SBJ Awards banquet. It was the second time that Barnhart has been a finalist in his career. The other finalists were Ray Anderson (Arizona State University), Jennifer Cohen (University of Washington), Blake James (University of Miami) and Jamie Pollard (Iowa State University).
“I am honored and thankful to represent the University of Kentucky in receiving this award,” Barnhart said in a statement released by UK. “It’s truly a testament to the incredible work our student-athletes, coaches and staff have done to build a program to make the Big Blue Nation and the Commonwealth proud. I also want to say a special thank you to my wife, Connie, and my entire family for taking this journey with me. We have much work ahead of us though, and we can’t wait to do it.”
The honor comes near the end of a year which has seen Kentucky win 10 games and defeat perennial college football power Penn State in the Citrus Bowl, advance to the Elite Eight in men's basketball, reach the Super Regionals in softball, win the SEC championship in volleyball, a MAC championship in men’s soccer, an NCAA title in rifle, and another national title in cheerleading.
Kentucky is currently tied for sixth in the Learfield IMG College Directors Cup standings, which would be the best finish in school history.
“During Mitch Barnhart’s tenure as Director of Athletics at the University of Kentucky, we have reached unprecedented levels of academic and competitive accomplishment,” said UK President Eli Capilouto. “This award recognizes his deep and compelling commitment to students and their personal success, and to the academic mission of the institution. You see that commitment in the program’s strong graduation rate and grade point average. Several teams have competed for and won conference and national championships, along with individual titles and recognitions in virtually every sport.
“And UK Athletics’ financial investment in academic and need-based scholarships and in our instructional facilities is unmatched. At each step of the way, he built upon this momentum with respect and integrity. I know I speak for the entire UK family when I offer him our heartfelt congratulations on this well-deserved honor.”
