(BCSNN) — Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear publicly criticized the University of Kentucky’s leadership on Tuesday, raising concerns about decision‑making at the state’s flagship institution during a turbulent stretch for its athletics department.

Beshear questioned the university’s creation of a $1 million‑per‑year position for outgoing athletic director Mitch Barnhart, who will retire June 30 and transition into a newly created role as executive in residence for the UK Sport and Workforce Initiative. The contract does not outline specific job duties, prompting pushback from prominent supporters and renewed scrutiny of UK’s administrative direction.

“I am losing confidence and growing increasingly concerned with the management and decision‑making at the University of Kentucky,” Beshear said in a statement. He cited the Barnhart appointment and the selection of a new law school dean who was not recommended by faculty as examples of what he described as troubling trends.

Beshear also said he worries about “partisan and undue outside influence” affecting university decisions and encouraged students, faculty and trustees to attend this week’s board meetings and “ask the tough questions.”

The governor’s remarks come at a challenging moment for Kentucky athletics. The university fired longtime football coach Mark Stoops in December after four straight losing seasons, replacing him with former Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein. On the basketball side, head coach Mark Pope enters his third season facing heightened expectations after a second‑round NCAA tournament exit and a difficult offseason on the recruiting trail.

Kentucky, the winningest program in Division I men’s basketball history, has not reached the Final Four since 2015. Pope led the Wildcats to the Sweet 16 in his first season, but injuries and inconsistency derailed his second year. The Wildcats also missed on several top transfer targets this spring, including BYU guard Robert Wright III and Syracuse forward Donnie Freeman, who committed to St. John’s.

While 2026 No. 1 recruit Tyran Stokes is still considering Kentucky, the Wildcats have yet to land a top‑100 prospect in the current recruiting cycle, according to ESPN.

Barnhart, who has served as athletic director since 2002, remains one of the most influential figures in modern UK athletics, overseeing national championships, major facility upgrades and the school’s transition through conference realignment. His new role, however, has become a flashpoint at a time when the university faces questions about competitiveness, transparency and long‑term direction.

A UK spokesperson said the university looks forward to addressing concerns at upcoming board meetings. A national search for the next athletic director is ongoing.