Mitch Barnhart
	Title: Director of Athletics

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Mitch Barnhart is in his ninth year at the University of Kentucky, with unparalleled accomplishments in his past and unprecedented goals for the future.

Looking to build on the successes under his direction, Barnhart's ambitious course for the future was revealed in November 2008 with the 15 by 15 by 15 Plan. The goals are to win at least 15 conference or national championships and rank among the NCAA's top 15 athletic programs by 2015 - all of which would be unprecedented achievements for UK Athletics - while continuing to expand the department's service to the commonwealth of Kentucky. Another goal is a cumulative 3.0 grade-point average for UK's 500-plus student-athletes on an annual basis.

The goal Barnhart set nine years ago to mold an athletics department that competed with integrity, won championships with class and succeeded in the classroom is beginning to come to fruition with the close of the 2009-10 athletics season.

UK continued its annual improvement in the Directors' Cup standings with a finish of 29th place in 2009-10. It was the school's best showing since Barnhart's arrival, its top finish since the 1997-98 season and only three slots away from the best mark in school history.

The primary academic target was met at the conclusion of the 2010 spring semester as UK's student-athletes notched a composite 3.04 GPA, the highest semester of the Barnhart era, but Barnhart wants to continue to see academic success and improvement in the future. In addition, 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. Graduation rates, which date back to classes that entered six years ago, are beginning to show the improvement Barnhart emphasized upon his arrival in 2002.

Barnhart's connection to UK student-athletes is evident by his individual interaction and dedication to provide the support services necessary to meet their needs. UK Athletics spends more than $1.5 million annually on its nationally renowned Center for Academic and Tutorial Services. He also began the CATSPYs, an annual awards program that honors the best of UK Athletics.

Additional initiatives begun under Barnhart's leadership include fully funding all 22 varsity sports with maximum number of scholarships and coaches, creating the UK Athletics Hall of Fame and the construction of the Joe Craft Center, a $30 million facility that includes practice and administrative space for a variety of sports.

Barnhart's influence reaches far beyond the fields of competition. Despite athletics' urgent financial needs, Barnhart founded a $1.2-million annual contribution to the University's scholarship program, a donation that was increased to $1.7 million annually in 2009-10.

Social responsibility in the Commonwealth of Kentucky also is a priority for Barnhart, who is extremely active in community service and encourages UK athletics staff and student-athletes to do the same.

Barnhart has been involved on the national level as well and in 2010 will become the chair of the NCAA Basketball Issues Committee.

Barnhart arrived at UK from Oregon State, where he served four successful years (1998-2002) as athletics director. Before OSU, he worked in athletics administration posts at Tennessee (1986- 98), Southern Methodist University (1983-86), Oregon (1983) and San Diego State (1982-83).

Barnhart is a native of Kansas City, Kan. He earned his bachelor's degree from Ottawa University (Kansas) in 1981 and a master's in sports administration from Ohio University in 1982.

His family includes his wife, Connie, three children, Blaire, Scott, Kirby Willoughby and her husband, McKenzie.