The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced Thursday that Mitch Barnhart, the Director of Athletics at the University of Kentucky, will be the recipient of the 2022 NFF John L. Toner Award. He will officially be honored Dec. 6 during the 64th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas at Bellagio Resort & Casino.
First presented in 1997, the John L. Toner Award recognizes athletics directors who have demonstrated superior administrative abilities and shown outstanding dedication to college athletics and particularly college football. The award is named in honor of its inaugural recipient, the late John L. Toner who was a former athletics director and football coach at Connecticut. Toner, an NCAA President from 1983-85, joined the NFF Board in 1988 and served as the vice chairman from 2000-2008.
“For two decades, Mitch Barnhart has skillfully guided Kentucky as one of the foremost leaders in collegiate athletics,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “He is committed to ensuring Wildcat student-athletes have success both on and off the field. We are pleased to honor him with the 2022 NFF John L. Toner Award in recognition of his distinguished career.”
Hired in 2002, Barnhart will begin his 21st year as Kentucky’s director of athletics this fall. He has steadily invested in the growth of all UK teams while maintaining a singular commitment to the holistic development of Wildcat student-athletes.
Barnhart will be honored during the 64th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 6alongside the yet-to-be announced recipients of the other NFF Major Awards.
For more information on the 64th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas, including how to register for tickets, please visit FootballFoundation.org/feature/NFF2022.