“Mitch Barnhart came to me earlier this week to share his concern that the discussion surrounding his future role leading our sports workforce initiative has become a distraction from the work of our university,” Capilouto announced in his statement. “Mitch and his family care deeply about this institution and our state, and they want the focus to return to the work that matters most for our students and the Commonwealth.” Barnhard will instead retire on June 30 without becoming the head of the Sports Workforce Initiative at UK. He had already signed a contract for the new position, but Capilouto said he and Barnhart would work to work out new terms for his departure.“The compensation associated with his departure will be supported entirely by private funds — not athletic funds, not funds that would go toward NIL opportunities or university funds — that I will raise,” Capilouto said.

“Mitch’s impact on this university has been profound, and I am grateful for his decades of leadership and service.”The lucrative job which was created for Barnhart caused a furor around Kentucky, with complaints coming from UK boosters and others. On Tuesday, Gov. Andy Beshear joined in, saying he was concerned about UK’s decisions in the matter.This story is developing and will be updated.