Among the numerous stories that have entertained (at their best) and disillusioned (at their worst) Kentucky fans this offseason, the school's ongoing drama at the athletic director spot has somehow risen above them all. And even now that things finally appear to be solved, the bow won't be tied without some financial damage being dealt in more ways than one.
As Mitch Barnhart leaves and J Batt takes his place, Kentucky will pay millions in either direction to make the transition work in full. In Barnhart's case, Lexington Herald Leader's Jon Hale reported that it's a retirement settlement. The deal is wrought from the egregious "golden parachute" setup that landed him in hot water earlier this year.
When it comes to Batt, the money paid his way will actually go to Michigan State to buy him out of his contract there - one that was previously expected to be less expensive - in order to get the man to Lexington in the first place.
There's a lot to pick through here. Before we get to the new kid on the block, let's hit Barnhart's fully financed ride into the sunset.
Barnhart's Last Deal in Lexington
Per Hale, the final damage comes out to a total of $3.2 million from Kentucky to Barnhart, with the settlement coming specifically as a result of the latter's own decision to abandon his initial plan to take on a university administration position.
“The agreement executed with Mr. Barnhart will be paid for with private funds, raised by President Capilouto,” noted UK spokesman Jay Blanton in an official statement. A curious distinction, but for the sake of brevity, we press on.
Not only is the amount less than what Barnhart was due in his first controversial deal, but he'll also have to do without the courtesy vehicles and tickets this time around. His remaining duties will drop down to part-time, with annual compensation coming Barnhart's way beginning in 2027 and in 2029.
The checks will hit once a year to the tune of $760,000, before a final severance payment of $780,000 is made on December 31, 2029.
Batt's Buyout Scenario
Batt's scenario, on the other hand, is much simpler.
UK announced that Batt is set to begin his run as CEO of Champions Blue LLC and UK Athletics Director on July 28, paying $3.95 million to the aforementioned Spartans in the process. Before Michigan State president Kevin Guskiewicz backed out of a deal with Clemson that would've seen him take the same position with the Tigers, that buyout came in at a much lower $2.5 million.
But with Guskiewicz's sudden return to Sparty, the Wildcats suddenly have to fork over that full price. Yet, all's well that ends well, BBN; at the end of the day, the shift between Barnhart and Batt, after far too many hangups, is officially complete.
Kentucky has their athletic director of the future, and lucky for the Cats, he's known for his financial abilities more than just about anything else. J Batt's buyout is more than worth a modern grasp on NIL and equally relevant hires for years to come.
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