Mitch Barnhart is not changing UK’s facility plan even if John Calipari does want a new practice facility. (Twitter Photo)
If John Calipari was trying to put pressure on Kentucky athletics director Mitch Barnhart to build a new basketball practice facility, it didn’t work.
Calipari outlined a need Thursday for a new practice facility to replace the “outdated” Joe Craft Center that is now 15 years old. That request got lost a little because of the controversy Calipari created with his comments about football.
But the real deal here is that Calipari felt the need to make a public plea for the facility because his relationship with Barnhart is not great and he knows the UK athletics director has other facility upgrades in mind before he wants to build a new practice facility.
Barnhart confirmed Saturday during a press conference at the UK football complex that a new basketball practice facility is not part of the department’s current facilities plan that is focused on upgrading Memorial Coliseum where the volleyball and women’s basketball teams, a new tennis facility and finishing the indoor track facility/Nutter Field House project.
“The Craft Center is 15 years old. We’ve continued to make enhancements during that time. We’ve enhanced that facility over and over again. It continues to be a state of the art facility. We take really good care of it,” Barnhart said.
“We’ll continue to make improvements as we see fit, as we’re working through that. But we always do that. We always have. We’ve never stopped looking at ways we can continue to enhance our program. It’s what we’ve done.”
Calipari is not going to like that answer but maybe volleyball coach Craig Skinner, who won a national title two seasons ago, will because it could lead to air conditioning. If you have never been in Memorial Coliseum in August — or even September — you cannot imagine how hot it can be.
Barnhart made it clear he was not happy with the basketball/football feud, especially at a time when so many in eastern Kentucky have been decimated by the recent floods and western Kentucky is still recovering from a December tornado.
“The grownups are going to have to figure it out be a little better. I think sometimes you get a little success you can be a little entitled. We’re going to make sure we’re not entitled. … We will not be an entitled department. We will be grateful for what we’ve got,” Barnhart said.
Entitle? Not sure Calipari will like that being directed at him, either.
“When we have the platform to be grateful, it’s amazing what happens out of all of that. You find a little joy in where you are instead of trying to pick at the things that are wrong,” Barnhart said. “We won’t be that group. I’ll teach it that way from my end. You can either join me in the journey and we’ll have some fun and get there, or you don’t.”
Was that an ultimatum to Calipari to quit campaigning publicly for a new facility and criticizing what UK has now? Sure seemed like it.
Lexington Herald-Leader columnist Mark Story asked Barnhart if UK fans needed to worry about a similar scenario from about 70 years ago when football coach Bear Bryant left UK due to a supposed feud with basketball coach Adolph Rupp.
“They’ve been provided every opportunity to do the things they want to do to be successful. That isn’t changing as long as I’m in the chair. We will have that support. If that’s not good enough, coaches change a lot in today’s world. They do.”
Barnhart said that would be a decision only the coaches could make but they did not have to “fear” the administration. However, they also should not expect the administration to cave in to every demand.
“I will tell you I’ll be there with them, I’ll walk with them, both of them. …They don’t have to fear the administration. The administration has been right here the whole time,” Barnhart said.
“We’ve got a president that has been right here the whole time. That isn’t changing. They’ve been provided every opportunity to do the very things they want to do to be successful. That isn’t changing as long as I’m in the chair.”
However, pay attention to the next two sentences Barnhart said.
“We will have that support. If that’s not good enough, coaches change a lot in today’s world,” Barnhart said.
And I don’t think Barnhart was focusing on Calipari when he said that.
4 Responses
I heard AD Barnhart’s remarks today, and he was on the money. The boss told it straight! UK has as good an AD as they could possibly hope for IMO. The record set by the Kentucky Athletic Dept. speaks for itself sitting in 9th place under his leadership.
Geez Cal, your facility for practice is a mere 15 years old!? My My!! Such an ancient facility! It has been maintained though per the boss. Now It sprung a leak in the roof recently, but they undoubtedly will fix that, right? Then business as usual for basketball. Get after No. 9 boys and be thankful for the Joe Craft Center right now is what I heard, That said the boss reiterated that they are always looking at ways to enhance the basketball facilities when the timing is right.
To me, Barnhart sounded as fair as he could be to all UK’s sports team needs at this point in time, and has upgrades already done or scheduled for facilities that needed the most attention. I would say Calipari got a tad too pushy with his in your face public "basketball castle" request while enjoying a free trip for him and his team to the Bahamas to beat up on less talented teams. Coach Stoops put him in his place for involving the football team with his ill advised remarks right here before kick off. To me so did Barnhart if you listened to the boss carefully.
What I heard from Barnhart was work hard, and be thankful for what you have. Show some grace and kindness by all and lets have some fun competing for championships and tune out the noise that don’t matter. He also said UK is not a "basketball school" or a "football school" It is BOTH. Good answer, I don’t think Calipari agrees though.
We are overlooking the need “health and safety” issues mentioned. The roof/ceiling has needed a repair for several years. Per Cal”…a player got dripped on…”
What would happen during a Womens game(BASKETBALL, VOLLEYBALL, GYMNASTICS) if a player stepped on a drip and badly hurt themselves?!! Or men in practice??
What about black mold due to leaky roof/ceiling? Athletes, fans and anyone in Joe Craft could be breathing in that debilitating mold. Necessary repairs for health and safety ARE IMPORTANT. Past due at Joe Craft.
the volleyball team does not play in the UK basketball practice facility
Mitch is not Larry as a AD if Cal want and need a NEW practice facility! Get it done, and while you at it Mitch, get some black owned businesses down at RUPP and around downtown Lexington. And change that racist azz name of RUPP!! Coach Stoops and his Staff are getting it done on the field. Respect Both Coaches! But Mitch you ain’t no Larry Ivey buddy! Stop acting like you own the University! Cause u don’t