Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has publicly raised concerns about decision-making at the University of Kentucky, including a high-paying new role given to retiring athletic director Mitch Barnhart.
Beshear’s criticism — unusual for a sitting governor — comes during a challenging period for Kentucky athletics, with struggles in both football and basketball compared to peer programs.
Barnhart, who is set to step down June 30, was recently appointed executive in residence for the UK Sport and Workforce Initiative by university president Eli Capilouto. The position carries a $1 million annual salary starting July 1 but does not include a clearly defined job description, prompting some supporters to question the move.
“I am losing confidence and growing increasingly concerned with the management and decision-making at the University of Kentucky,” Beshear said in a statement Tuesday. “My concerns include the creation of a new $1 million job that has no defined duties and the announcement that the new dean of law was the only candidate not recommended by law school faculty.
“I’ve been told that despite previously saying the dean must be approved by UK’s Board of Trustees, the university has shifted and now states approval is not needed. I worry that these actions are related to certain donors pushing partisan and undue outside influence onto the university. I hope students, faculty, trustees and the community attend this week’s board meetings and ask the tough questions that should be answered.”
The governor’s remarks also follow the December firing of football coach Mark Stoops after four straight seasons below .500. He was replaced by Will Stein, formerly the offensive coordinator at Oregon.
Meanwhile, the men’s basketball program under Mark Pope continues to face pressure. Despite being the winningest Division I team in NCAA history, Kentucky has not reached the Final Four since 2015. Pope led the team to the Sweet 16 in his first season, but the following year ended inconsistently, including a 19-point loss to Iowa State in the second round of the NCAA tournament — just two days after a dramatic overtime win over Santa Clara.
Heading into his third season, Pope faces increased scrutiny after missing out on key transfer targets such as BYU guard Robert Wright III and Syracuse transfer Donnie Freeman, who chose St. John’s and coach Rick Pitino. While top 2026 recruit Tyran Stokes is still considering Kentucky, the Wildcats have yet to secure a top-100 prospect in the current recruiting class, according to ESPN.
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