Via an open letter to Kentucky fans, Mitch Barnhart announced that UK will not be retaining head football coach Joker Phillips next season.
“After much conversation, evaluation and prayer, I have determined that it is in the best interest of our athletics program to make a change in our football coaching staff at the conclusion of the season,” Barnhart said near the end of the 933-word letter that was put up on www.ukathletics.com Sunday afternoon.
“I do so with a heavy heart for a man who has served his alma mater for almost 22 years as a player and a coach.”
The dismissal said a search will begin immediately for Phillips’ replacement, but the coach will be retained until the end of the season. Barnhart said he search will be “managed internally.”
The only problem with this is that Barnhart will be the guy hiring the next failure of a Kentucky football coach. The University needs to allow someone independent from Barnhart to hire the next coach. The last two hires by Barnhart have been “friends” and from a realistic stand point both have been losers.