< PreviousRUPP ARENA @UKSportsNetwork 69 Adolph Rupp was synonymous with win- ning. As coach of Kentucky, he was a pioneer in the Wildcats’ fast-break offense while becoming the winningest coach the game had ever seen. The site that now serves as a tribute to his outstanding coaching accomplishments – Rupp Arena – has become one of the most recognizable gym- nasiums in the world while serving as home to college basketball’s most storied program. Now in its 43rd season as the Kentucky Wildcats’ home court, the facility has seen UK win nearly 90 percent of its home games since it opened in 1976. Long considered the mecca of college basketball, Rupp Arena received a $16 mil- lion upgrade over the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons that has enhanced the fan experi- ence and once again made it one of the pre- mier venues in all of college basketball. The most notable updates include: n State-of-the-art Daktronics center-hung video board n 15mm ribbon boards n Replaced 16mm LED corner video boards with 6mm LED video boards to produce HD quality image n L Acoustic Line Array audio speaker system n Total sanding and repainting of the floor to reflect UK’s updated branding and logo n New basketball goals and new shot clocks n Added press box seating to the east side of the arena n Replaced LED scorer’s table with 6mm version and moved the old 10mm scorer’s table to the opposite side of the floor for radio broadcast seating n Replaced static ad panels in lower four corners of the arena with LED ad panels Additional renovations are in store for college basketball’s premier arena as a part of UK’s new leasing agreement with the Lexington Center. Chair-back seating in the upper-level sideline will be installed in sections 211- 217 and 228-234 through a project that will be completed for the 2019-20 season. New club areas to Rupp Arena will also be coming to Rupp Arena. Fans in these new clubs will be able to enjoy first-class ameni- ties before, during and after games. Club ar- eas will be available to season ticket holders starting with the 2020-21 season. After renovations, Rupp Arena will seat approximately 20,500. The top priority is ensuring that all current season ticket hold- ers will maintain seats in the newly reno- vated Rupp Arena and UK fully anticipates being able to do so. Following the 2012 season, the Wild- cats received a $3.1 million renovation to their locker room. Funded with private do- nations, the facility features the actual floor from the 2012 championship game. It has its own kitchen and dining area, as well as hot and cold tubs inlaid with the UK logo. There is also a recruiting room that is available to all 22 sports at the University of Kentucky. Since the fall of 1976, the arena in down- town Lexington has served as home to four national championship teams at Kentucky. Six others have advanced to the Final Four. Thirteen seasons have witnessed the Cats go unbeaten at home. It has played host to more than 600 UK games, more than 30 KHSAA Sweet Six- teens, a number of NBA exhibitions, 12 Men’s NCAA Tournaments, three Southeast- ern Conference Tournaments and two Ohio Valley Conference Tournaments. A new floor was installed in 2001. With so many unforgettable moments, the old floor still maintained a value to hoop fans across the Bluegrass and beyond. Therefore, officials made pieces of the relic available for public sale, with proceeds going to the UK Basketball Museum, the KHSAA and to help offset the costs of the new playing floor. Thanks to an auction of additional sec- tions, like coaching boxes and lettered end zones, the old floor generated more than $250,000. Midcourt of the old floor rests in the main entrance of the Lexington Center. When assembled, the court lies 118 feet below the ceiling and is made of a high-grade northern maple. The floor can be removed and an ice rink can be constructed for ice shows or hockey games thanks to a $2.5 mil- lion renovation during the summer of 1996. But the playing surface is just one aspect of the impressive home of the Cats. Situated in downtown Lexington, Rupp Arena has played host to several premier basketball events. In March of 1985, all roads led to Lexington for the NCAA Final Four as Villanova shocked Georgetown in a memorable finale. In 1986, Rupp played host to both the SEC Tournament and the NCAA Women’s Final Four. On numerous other occasions, the arena has served as one stop en route to the NCAA title game. Starting in 2016, Rupp Arena hosted three straight NCAA women’s regional rounds. An awesome structure in sight and scope, the arena is divided into two seating areas. The lower level features 10,000 cushioned theater seats. The upper level has 13,000 seats on epoxy-coated metal bleachers. The latter can be visually isolated to provide more natural setting for small shows. Built by the city of Lexington, the are- na is the major portion of the $53 million Lexington Center complex, which includes an expanded convention-exhibition hall, a 50-store tri-level enclosed shopping mall and a Hyatt Regency Hotel. In January 2001, the Wildcats began utilizing a new lights-out introduction, fea- turing a video presentation and indoor fire- works. Rupp Arena Facts Capacity: 20,500 UK’s record: 594-69 (.896) Most Wins in a Season: 19 (2014-15) Longest Winning Streak: 54 (11/13/09 to 12/1/12) Packed to the Rafters • Kentucky has led the nation in average home attendance in 20 of the last 24 seasons • Since Rupp Arena opened for the 1976-77 season, UK has ranked either first or sec- ond in average attendance every season • The Wildcats average home attendance during the 2018-19 season with an aver- age of 21,695 fans • UK has averaged more than 23,000 fans per game in seven of John Calipari’s nine seasons at Kentucky Dr. Eli Capilouto became the 12th Presi- dent of the University of Kentucky July 1, 2011. Under his leadership, Kentucky’s flag- ship and land grant research university has reimagined what’s possible as the state’s most important institution for growth in education, health care, and economic and social advances. In less than a decade, UK has grown from $2.7 billion to $4.2 billion in total operations, fueled by sustained and significant momentum in its missions of teaching, research, service, and health care. One example of that growth—and re- imagination of what is possible for a public university—has been a $2.4 billion trans- formation of the campus, aimed squarely at expanding UK’s education, research, ser- vice, and health care missions. Specifically, through partnerships with the private sector, increased philanthropy, and effective finan- cial management, UK is self-financing the vast majority of this aggressive development. Over the last eight years, the University has opened: n The $265 million Healthy Kentucky Research Building; n The $201 million Bill Gatton Student Center; n The $112 Jacobs Science Building (fi- nanced, in large part, through a $65 million partnership with UK Athletics); n The $65 million renovated and ex- panded Gatton College of Business and Economics building; n 20 new dining facilities; n 14 new residence halls, funded entire- ly with private equity; n A new $15 million home for the School of Art and Visual Studies; n A $126 million revitalized Kroger Field (funded solely by Athletics revenue); n Nearly $550 million since 2011 in the continued construction and fit-out of the new Chandler Hospital; n And a $56 million renovation and expan- sion of the College of Law, opening this fall. This re-imagination and innovation of the campus has resulted in: n Enrolling more than 30,500 students, thanks to dramatic growth in first-year en- rollment and record retention rates; n Conferring more 7,000 undergradu- ate, graduate, and professional degrees in the last academic year, reflective of a record graduation rate; n Treating more than 40,000 patients in UK HealthCare; n Earning more than $380 million in re- search awards, including a historic $87 mil- lion grant to fight opioid abuse and death; n Being nationally recognized for efforts to be a diverse and welcoming community; n Remaining in a strong financial posi- tion, reflected by a strong and stable bond rating; and n Negotiating a transformative partner- ship with the city of Lexington that will strengthen economic development, im- prove career prospects for our graduates, and provide better pedestrian safety. The progress on the campus is helping ensure an outstanding workforce for Ken- tucky, with dramatic increases in the num- ber of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) degrees. More than 77 percent of all UK graduates stay in Kentucky, with average earnings of more than 25 percent above the national average. UK is Kentucky’s indispensable econom- ic partner, with dozens of partnerships to provide research expertise to private busi- ness owners and internship opportunities for UK students; spending $5.5 billion with Kentucky companies since 2011; owning more than 600 patent assets; and employing more than 13,500 people, who pay more than $100 million in state and local taxes. A native of Montgomery, Alabama, Dr. Capilouto previously served as Provost of the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) and Dean of the UAB School of Pub- lic Health -- a period of remarkable growth and transformation at one of the leading academic and health sciences institutions in the South. Dr. Capilouto holds several undergraduate and graduate degrees from schools within the University of Alabama system, a Doctor of Medicine in Dentist- ry (D.M.D.) from UAB, and a Doctorate in Health Policy and Management from Har- vard University. He and his wife, Dr. Mary Lynne Capilouto (D.M.D.) a former Dean of the UAB School of Dentistry, have one daughter. Eli Capilouto n President of the University of Kentucky 70 @KentuckyMBB 19-09020 WP | Basketball Yearbook Ad for JMI.indd 59/26/19 9:08 AMOne of the foremost leaders in college athletics and SportsBusiness Journal’s reigning Athletic Director of the year, Mitch Barnhart is in his 18th year at the helm of the University of Kentucky Athletics Department. Since his arrival in Lexington, Barnhart has steadily invested in the growth of all 22 UK teams while maintaining a singular commitment to the holistic development of Wildcat student-athletes. Matching resourc- es to expectations has been a hallmark of his tenure, with the proof coming in the form of $300 million in facility improvements since 2007 and his bold pursuit of Elite 1-3-5. At the heart of everything are the core values Barnhart has instilled in the department he leads: character, integrity, knowledge, stew- ardship and competitiveness. The aim of Elite 1-3-5 is for each UK team to be No. 1 by winning a conference or national championship, sustain a depart- ment-wide 3.0 grade-point average and rank in the top five of the Learfield IMG Direc- tors’ Cup standings by 2022. It’s an ambi- tious undertaking, but UK students, coaches and staff have proven themselves capable of unmatched achievement. Four UK teams have won championships towards Elite 1-3- 5, most recently with volleyball winning a second consecutive SEC championship and men’s soccer sweeping Conference USA reg- ular-season and tournament titles. UK Athletics continues to excel in the ac- ademic component of Elite 1-3-5, as Wild- cat student-athletes on scholarship have combined for a GPA of better than 3.0 in 14 consecutive semesters. In spring 2019, UK achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.201, the second best in school history. UK athletes have set records for graduation rates and maintained a perfect mark in the 15-year his- tory of the NCAA Academic Progress Rate, making UK one of just two SEC schools to never incur an APR penalty. Elite 1-3-5 is the successor to Barnhart’s 15 by 15 by 15 Plan, set forth in 2008. The 15 by 15 by 15 Plan called on UK Athletics to rank among the nation’s top 15 athletics programs and win 15 conference or national championships by 2015. At the same time, Barnhart set goals of a 3.0 composite GPA for Wildcat students and an even greater commitment to community service. The academic goal was first achieved in the spring semester of 2010, with grades hit- ting a peak in spring 2014 with a school-re- cord 3.218 composite GPA. Community service has risen to more than 4,000 hours annually and includes outreach to the Lex- ington area, the Commonwealth of Kentucky and as far away as Ethiopia, the Dominican Republic and Panama. The Directors’ Cup objective was reached a year early when UK checked in at a then- school record No. 11 in the 2013-14 nation- al all-sports standings. The final goal was reached when UK men’s basketball claimed the 2015 SEC Tournament title, the 15th championship won by Wildcat athletes since 2008. In addition to being one of four NCAA Division I Athletics Directors of the Year in 2015, Barnhart also was one of four finalists for Athletics Director of the Year as chosen by the SportsBusiness Journal and he received the Sports Business Award from the Bluegrass Sports Commission that year. Four years after his first nomination by the SportsBusiness Journal Barnhart was named 2019 Athletic Director of the Year, but he has always been more interested in the achieve- ments of UK student-athletes than his own. On that count, UK has had plenty to celebrate. During a 2018-19 season that saw five teams (men’s soccer, men’s basketball, rifle, volleyball and softball) post top-10 finishes and the football program post its best season in 41 years, Wildcat student-athletes excelled. Barnhart is always seeking improvement. One recent example is UK’s newly launched Student-Athlete Experience Division. Through the division’s work, UK has renewed its com- mitment to prepare student-athletes to enter life after UK by equipping them with requisite professional skills and helping them identify and pursue internship and work opportunities while continuing to provide the academic sup- port that has made UK Athletics a trendsetter in college athletics for the last four decades. Even with the department’s growth and the increasingly competitive nature of col- lege sports, UK Athletics has remained finan- cially self-sufficient under Barnhart’s man- agement, operating with a balanced budget and with the help of no state or University funds. Seeing pressing facility needs on cam- pus as well, Barnhart has made a $65 mil- lion commitment for athletics to fund nearly two-thirds of the new Don & Cathy Jacobs Science Building on campus. He also directs an annual $1.7-million contribution to the University’s scholarship program. Millions more dollars from the athletics budget stay on campus each year through athletic schol- arship payments, administrative support pay- ments, merchandise royalties and other ave- nues. Additionally, UK has also completely phased out the athletics fee previously paid by students as part of their tuition. A steadfast believer in the transforma- tional power of college athletics, Barnhart is influential on the national level. Already having served on numerous committees and boards for the NCAA and the National As- sociation of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), Barnhart completed his third year as a member of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee in 2019, which brings responsibility for selecting, seeding and bracketing teams, along with administration of the NCAA’s highest-profile event. With his extensive previous experience on the NCAA Division I Council, as chair of the NCAA Competition Oversight Commit- tee and as a member of the NCAA Division I Baseball Committee, in addition to several other leadership groups, Barnhart has prov- en himself well suited for the task. Now the longest-tenured athletics direc- tor in the Southeastern Conference, Barnhart arrived at UK from Oregon State, where he served four successful years (1998-2002) as athletics director. Before OSU, he worked in athletics administration posts at Tennessee (1986-98), Southern Methodist University (1983-86), Oregon (1983) and San Diego State (1982-83). Barnhart is a native of Kansas City, Kansas. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Ottawa University (Kansas) in 1981 and a master’s in sports administration from Ohio University. Barnhart and his wife, Connie, also ac- tively serve and support the Christian Student Fellowship and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes on campus in an effort to minister to young people. The Barnharts have three chil- dren, Kirby Willoughby, Blaire Jansen and Scott; Kirby’s husband, McKenzie; grand- sons, Cooper and Reece; Blaire’s husband, Andrew; and Scott’s wife Cassie. Mitch Barnhart n Athletics Director of the University of Kentucky 72 @KentuckyMBBmember!Next >