Mitch Barnhart named chair of NCAA men’s basketball committee for 2020-21

UK Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart has been named the chair of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee for the 2020-21 season, the NCAA announced on Friday. He is the third UK AD to serve as chair of the committee, joining Bernie Shively and C.M. Newton.

Barnhart will serve as vice chair of the committee for the 2019-20 season, working with committee chair and Duke AD Kevin White.

“Being asked to serve in this role by my wonderful colleagues on this committee is one of the highest honors I’ve ever received,” Barnhart said in a press release. “The 10 of us carry a huge responsibility, not just with the selection, seeding and bracketing of teams each year, which draws the greatest amount of attention, but also as a group charged with working with other constituents to manage the health of the sport of college basketball. It’s an incredible challenge and one we will continue to take very seriously.”

Barnhart will be serving his fourth year in a five-year term this season on the committee, which is responsible for selecting, seeding and bracketing teams for the NCAA Tournament.

Barnhart was named AD of the Year by Sports Business Journal earlier this year.