Jon Hale

UK AD will stay out of replacement search: ‘They don’t need Mitch Barnhart 2.0’ Mitch Barnhart thinks Kentucky’s next athletic director should have the freedom to make changes to his way of operating the department.

Mitch Barnhart says he will stay out of the search for his replacement.

"They don’t need Mitch Barnhart 2.0"

More from @jonhalehl.bsky.social: ⬇️
www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

What we know about the process to find Mitch Barnhart’s replacement as UK AD UK President Eli Capilouto plans to start the search process for a new athletic director with a listening tour.

NEW: What's next in the search for Mitch Barnhart's replacement as UK AD?

Some more info on Capilouto's planned listening tour, Barnhart's role in the process and more here www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

A year after leaving Kentucky football, Barion Brown still loves the Wildcats Former UK WR Barion Brown spoke to the Herald-Leader about his ongoing love for the program at the NFL Combine.

NEW: When the Senior Bowl PR team asked participants to pick the best player in the NFL, Barion Brown had an unexpected answer. He picked four former UK players.

So, why does Brown still love UK so much after transferring? I asked him at the combine. www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

‘He’s gonna be a great head coach’: Oregon NFL draft prospects talk Will Stein The Herald-Leader spoke with four former Oregon players at the NFL combine about Will Stein’s offense and their expectations for UK’s coach.

NEW: I spent some time at the NFL combine last week talking to former Oregon players about Will Stein's offense and what they expect from Kentucky's new coach.

"He’s gonna get them boys right." www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

See the salary, buyout details from Will Stein’s first Kentucky contract New UK coach Will Stein will be paid $5.5 million next season.

Will Stein's UK contract has been finalized. We reported salary, incentive and buyout information after he was hired in December here. www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

What could Kroger Field entertainment district look like? Here are four options During UK’s Board of Trustees meetings last week, the university provided the first glimpse of what a fan entertainment district near the football stadium could look like.

NEW: At last week’s athletics committee meeting, UK gave the first look at what the Kroger Field entertainment district could look like.

Here are the four preliminary options under consideration. www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

How Will Stein plans to continue to honor the legacy of John Schlarman at Kentucky Kentucky football’s new coach shares something with its old one when it comes to the importance of offensive line play.

NEW: Mark Stoops is gone. Will Stein was hired to bring a more explosive offense to Kentucky.

But the legacy of John Schlarman and the Big Blue Wall remains. www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

Why Will Stein is planning changes to Kentucky football training center New UK football coach Will Stein has already identified some changes he wants to make to the practice facility.

NEW: In my one-on-one interview with Will Stein this week, he mentioned planned changes in the football training center.

I asked Mitch Barnhart what those changes might look like after the athletics committee meeting yesterday. www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

Will Stein grew up a fan of Jeff Brohm. Now it’s his job to beat him In a one-on-one interview with the Herald-Leader, Kentucky’s new football coach talked about the changing dynamic in the Kentucky-Louisville rivalry.

NEW: Spent some time talking one-on-one with Will Stein this afternoon. The first of several stories coming from that interview:

What did he make of the Vince Marrow-Pete Nochta spat? How will rivalry change with so many former UofL players on UK's staff? www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

Former Mark Stoops UK assistants will coach in NFL, at SEC powers next season Most of the 2025 Kentucky football assistant coaches have already found new jobs. Will Stein will have to face several this fall.

NEW: Despite Kentucky's struggles last season that ended with a coaching change, most of Mark Stoops' former staff has had no trouble finding high profile new jobs.

Here's a look at where they've landed so far. www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

Spotlight on top draft prospect Tyler Bell as expectations grow for UK baseball Kentucky shortstop Tyler Bell is projected to be picked in the first round of the 2026 MLB draft.

UK baseball about to open 2026 season in North Carolina. All eyes on SS Tyler Bell, who could be the program's highest drafted player in decades www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

Here is how much you will have to pay for season tickets for Will Stein’s debut Kentucky is keeping price of season tickets the same for Will Stein’s first season, but K Fund donations are going up and one discount has been removed.

NEW: We now know how much season tickets for Will Stein's first UK football season will cost. www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

Here’s how much Kentucky football will pay the assistants on Will Stein’s staff The Herald-Leader obtained salary information for the more than 20 assistant coaches on Will Stein’s staff through the state’s open records law.

NEW: Will Stein has hired more than 20 assistant coaches so far. Here's how much UK will spend on the supersized staff in 2026. www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

‘The players are here’: Watch Will Stein’s UK football Super Bowl commercial Watch the Super Bowl commercial promoting Will Stein’s UK football program that aired in Lexington during halftime Sunday.

NEW: UK football's annual Super Bowl commercial returned to local TV in Lexington for Will Stein's first season. kentucky.com/sports/colle...

These three freshmen could be early contributors for Will Stein, UK football There were no fireworks on the traditional signing day for new UK coach Will Stein, but there still could be freshmen who help immediately.

NEW: The first Wednesday in February is no longer a huge day for new football coaches, but that doesn’t meant freshmen won’t play a key role in year one for Will Stein.

Here’s a look at three that could help immediately. www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

The latest UK football staff additions, per the school's online roster:

Former UofL RB Keith Towbridge as assistant RBs coach.

Former Marshall WR Tommy Shuler as assistant WRs coach.

Towbridge was at Bethune-Cookman last year. Shuler was coaching HS football in Miami.

Nick Mingione, Will Stein expect two-sport star Matt Ponatoski to play for UK UK will not know for sure if four-star QB Matt Ponatoski will make it to campus until after the MLB draft.

NEW: We've now heard from both Will Stein and Nick Mingione about the plan for two-sport star Matt Ponatoski at UK.

Both sound confident he will be in college next year. www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

The new UK football staff is young, but it might not be as young as you think Will Stein will be one of the youngest head coaches in the country next season, but he has not shied away from hiring young assistants, too.

NEW: There’s been a lot of talk about the age of the new UK football coaches, but the actual numbers might surprise you.

A closer look at the advantage of youth in the new era of college football and how much has changed from the Stoops era. www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

Reasons for excitement — and concern — on Will Stein’s first UK football roster We know what Will Stein’s first Kentucky football roster will look like, but is it good enough to compete in the SEC?

NEW: We know what Will Stein’s first UK football roster will look like, but how good will the Wildcats be in 2026?

Two reasons to be optimistic and two reasons to be concerned. www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

What should UK fans expect from QB Kenny Minchey? ‘He’s got it all.’ Kentucky coach Will Stein bets on former Notre Dame QB Kenny Minchey. Learn what Wildcats fans should expect as he competes to lead UK’s offense this season.

NEW: Kenny Minchey's profile as a transfer might give some Kentucky fans Brock Vandagriff flashbacks, but I caught up with his former HS coach (who played in the NFL) to see why he's confident Minchey can be a star at Kentucky. www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

The bulk of Will Stein’s first Kentucky roster is set. Here’s what you need to know A position-by-position look at the 2026 UK football roster after more than 30 transfer additions.

NEW: The bulk of Will Stein's first UK football roster is set.

Here's a position-by-position look at the roster after the portal window. Who left? Who was added? What's the outlook? www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

Your UK football roster breakdown post portal.

The football transfer portal closes tonight. Today is also the deadline to enroll in full-term classes for UK's spring semester.

There might be a little wiggle room to still get transfers in for spring practice, but the bulk of Will Stein's first roster should be wrapped up soon

Enhancements coming to Kroger Field as UK looks to generate new revenue The Champions Blue board of governors moved ahead with plans for a $25 million renovation to Kroger Field at its Thursday meeting.

NEW: The Champions Blue Board of Governors reviewed five enhancements coming to Kroger Field this morning. The first of the projects will be done this offseason. www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

Will Stein has flipped O-line from question to strength for Kentucky football The new UK football staff had to replace Kentucky’s entire starting offensive line.

NEW: No position on the Kentucky roster required more work when the portal opened than offensive line.

But in just more than a week Will Stein and his staff have turned that question into a strength. www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

Ray Davis was selected 1st team All Pro special teams. That’s a pretty rare accomplishment.

Willie Rodriguez is coming back, but UK still needs more receivers for new offense One of the most important players on the roster announced his return Thursday.

NEW: We now know Willie Rodriguez is coming back, but who else will Kenny Minchey have to throw to? List of portal receiver targets is expanding. www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

Here’s where Kentucky football still needs help as transfer class takes shape UK found its transfer quarterback, but the Wildcats still need help at other positions.

NEW: Start your morning with a look at where UK football's transfer class sits right now and what positions still need starter-level additions. www.kentucky.com/sports/colle...

Kentucky defender withdraws from NCAA Transfer Portal .

On3 reports Nasir Addison has removed his name from the transfer portal. That's good news for UK's CB room. He looked good in two fill-in starts in 2025, then missed last two games while preserving a redshirt season. www.on3.com/college/kent...

This move reminds me a lot of Liam Coen targeting Will Levis as a transfer. A bet on the physical tools despite lack of starter reps.