Chip Cosby of the Lexington Herald-Leader and Brett Dawson from the Courier-Journal both sat down with Athletics Dirctor Mitch Barnhart on Tuesday to discuss the possible departure of football head coach Rich Brooks.
According to their reports, Barnhart wants Brooks to stay if his heart is still in coaching.
“I think Rich enjoys being a football coach,” Barnhart said, according to Dawson’s report. “I can’t speak to his feelings, but I wanted to make sure (he knows) that if he wants to come back, it’s his. It’s his job.”
That comes in response to some scuttlebutt that Brooks indeed wants to stay if it’s in the right situation. If Brooks has specific needs he wants fulfilled in order to come back, Barnhart said he would be willing to listen.
“We’ll see how the conversation goes,” Barhart said in Dawson’s story. “He’ll have to talk to his family and get through that piece of the conversation, and then we’ll visit again. If there’s some things tht he says ‘I really need to have happen for me to stay,’ I’ll say, ‘OK we can do that.’ “
Barnhart said he hasn’t spoken to Brooks since Sunday but said he hopes to talk about the future sometime this week. The Kentucky AD said he remains firmly in support of the footballl program, Brooks’ decision and the succession plan in place.
Brooks told reporters Sunday that he would sit down with his family and make a decision in the next three to four days after the bowl game. For those of you keeping track, Wednesday marks day No. 3.
My gut feeling — and this goes off no factual evidence — is that the announcement will be delayed just a little bit longer than that. Brooks might have very well made up his mind already, but the fact that he and Barnhart have not had a discussion yet leads me to believe it could be after New Year’s before we finally know what the future holds. Again, just a gut reaction.
In speaking with a couple of people in the office at the athletic department, it’s been made very clear to me that this is strictly Brooks’ decision. If he wants to stay, the job is his.
Stay tuned.
For more on the two reports, read Chip Cosby’s story and Brett Dawson’s report.
