University of Kentucky President Lee T. Todd Jr. announced Wednesday that the University has agreed to a 3-year contract extension with a pay increase for Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart.
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Barnhart will move from a annual salary of $475,000 to $600,000, [B]making the salary more competitive with other salaries of Athletic Directors in the SEC[/B]. Todd said the move was designed to reward “exemplary performance” and provide “continuity and continued focus for a program clearly moving in the right direction.”
[QUOTE]”In my judgment, Mitch Barnhart is one of the outstanding leaders in intercollegiate athletics today,” Todd said, in announcing the extension. “During his tenure, we’ve had consistent and, in many respects, unparalleled success for our entire program, not just pieces of it. We have a comprehensive athletics program at UK, which is directly attributable to Mitch’s leadership and vision.[/QUOTE]
Barnhart has been in the role of Athletic Director for nine years now.
[QUOTE]”It is a privilege to be a part of University of Kentucky Athletics, which is so dear to our fans in the Commonwealth and across the country,” Barnhart said. “I appreciate Dr. Todd noting the progress of the last nine years and his confidence in the continued growth of the program.”[/QUOTE]
Here are some of Barnharts accomplishments during his tenure:
– The UK Athletics Department is one of only 14 in the country that is truly financially self-sufficient and has remained free of major NCAA infractions during Barnhart’s tenure.
– The program has experienced annual improvement in the Directors’ Cup standings with a finish of 29th place in 2009-10, the school’s best showing since the 1997-98 season.
– UK has consistently posted strong numbers in the NCAA Academic Progress Rate as every one of UK’s 22 varsity sports have avoided penalties in the APR’s six-year existence.
– UK Athletics spends more than $1.5 million annually on its nationally renowned Center for Academic and Tutorial Services.
– For the first time, all 22 varsity sports are funded with maximum number of scholarships and coaches.
– Creation of the UK Athletics Hall of Fame.
– Significant upgrades to facilities including the construction of the Joe Craft Center.
Go Cats!!!
[URL=”http://www.ukathletics.com/genrel/020911aaa.html”]
Read the full release from UK Athletics here[/URL]
