History of Mitch Barnhart in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: March 3, 2026

Mitch Barnhart is an American college athletics administrator currently serving as the athletic director for the Kentucky Wildcats at the University of Kentucky since 2002. Prior to Kentucky, he held the same position at Oregon State University from 1998 to 2002. Barnhart is the tenth athletics director for the Kentucky Wildcats. In August 2023, he signed a contract extension that secures his position at Kentucky until 2028.

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Full Timeline

August 27, 1959: Mitch Barnhart's Birth

On August 27, 1959, Mitch Barnhart was born. He is now an American college athletics administrator.

Others born on this day/year

1998: Athletic Director at Oregon State University

In 1998, Mitch Barnhart served as the athletic director at Oregon State University, a position he held until 2002.

2002: Hired by University of Kentucky

In 2002, Mitch Barnhart was hired by the University of Kentucky, succeeding Larry Ivy, to be the athletic director.

June 2012: Email Regarding Lars Jorgensen

In June 2012, emails revealed that Mark Howard informed Mitch Barnhart and Gary Conelly about accusations against Lars Jorgensen involving a sexual relationship with a female student while Jorgensen was employed at the University of Toledo.

2013: Lars Jorgensen Accusations

Between 2013 and 2023, Lars Jorgensen, a swim coach at the University of Kentucky, was accused of being a sexual predator.

2016: Kentucky Athletics Finished 10th Nationally

In 2016, Kentucky athletics finished 10th nationally in the NACDA Directors' Cup, with over 100 student-athletes graduating and maintaining an average GPA of over 3.0 for five consecutive years.

2017: Former staff serving as Athletic Directors at Other Universities

As of 2017, several coaches and administrators who have worked under Mitch Barnhart at Kentucky are now serving as athletic directors at other universities.