With Auburn AD Jay Jacobs retiring at the end of the academic year, the SEC athletic directors will need a new chair.

Jacobs has served in the position since 2012, but now he’ll be replaced next year by Kentucky AD Mitch Barnhart, who has been with the Wildcats for 16 years. Barnhart was named to the position via a unanimous vote.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey announced on Wednesday that the conference looks forward to having Barnhart serve in the role (per SECSports.com):

“Mitch’s experience as a proven leader makes him uniquely qualified to head our group of athletics directors during this particularly important time in the history of intercollegiate athletics,” said Sankey. “He commands the ability to identify solutions to problems and to navigate complex issues with a diverse group of strong leaders from our various institutions. I look forward to working with Mitch in his new role.”

Barnhart is the longest-tenured AD in the conference, so it makes sense he’d get the position, and it’s clear he has the respect of his peers.

Barnhart was the Division I AD of the Year back in 2015, another award that was voted on by his peers.