UK President Eli Capilouto provides update on athletic director search

Dec 3, 2025; Lexington, KY, USA; University of Kentucky President Dr. Eli Capilouto speaks during the introductory press conference for head football coach Will Stein at Nutter Field House. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images | Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

UK President Eli Capilouto provided a detailed update on the University of Kentucky’s athletic director search on Tuesday during the Champions Blue LLC Board of Governors Meeting, outlining progress while emphasizing that the process is still ongoing.

Capilouto revealed that he has talked to more than 70 people across both sports and business sectors as part of a comprehensive listening tour.

Despite those conversations, Capilouto confirmed that no formal interviews with candidates have taken place yet, signaling that the search remains in its early evaluation stages.

“Over the last several weeks, I’ve held in-depth, nearly hour-long conversations and discussions with senior leadership in athletics, all coaches, new donors, and stakeholders who understand what is occurring across the entire enterprise of college sports,” he said.

“In terms of my next steps, I’m near the conclusion of our listening tour. I’ll communicate with you (the UK board of trustees) and other stakeholders more about what I think the organizational structure or attributes are that we find necessary in our next leader. I’ll then make a decision about the process going forward — whether a search consultant is necessary, for example, or other steps we may take.”

Following the meeting, Jay Blanton told local media that the university’s goal is to have a new athletic director in place by June 30, when Mitch Barnhart’s contract expires.

One name that has surfaced as a potential candidate is Jeramiah Dickey, though Capilouto will ultimately make the final decision as Kentucky continues its search for its next leader.