John Calipari reacts to news of Mitch Barnhart’s retirement
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart will retire at the end of June, according to UK Athletics’ X account Tuesday afternoon. Barnhart served Kentucky sports for 24 years and made the successful hires of Mark Stoops and John Calipari.
Calipari, who is now the head coach at Arkansas, reacted to the news on Tuesday.
“I just heard that Mitch Barnhart is retiring,” Calipari’s post read. “I wanted to say even though Mitch and I didn’t always see eye to eye he did a good job and I wish he and Connie well in retirement.”
Barnhart hired Calipari ahead of the 2009-2010 season, one that paid almost immediate dividends for both parties. The Wildcats reached the Elite 8 in Year 1 under Calipari, then made the Final 4 the year following. Following the pattern, Calipari won his first and only title in 2012, Year 3 in Lexington.
The Wildcats went to the Elite 8 3 more times under Calipari, who also reached the Final 4 once more in 2015. However, Kentucky began to struggle in the tournament following the pandemic and has yet to make the Sweet 16 since.
Perhaps alluding to the “we didn’t always see eye to eye,” Calipari left for Arkansas ahead of the 2024-25 season. The Razorbacks are currently ranked 3rd in the SEC standings with 2 games to go in the regular season.
Kentucky basketball has a 43% chance to reach the Sweet 16 per Kalshi. Here’s a look at the latest odds:
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.
