In the aftermath of Kentucky’s bowl loss to Clemson over the weekend, head coach Rich Brooks told his players that he was “80 percent” certain he would not be back as their coach in 2010.
According to athletic director Mitch Barnhart, he wants wants to flip that number and make it 100 percent going the other way.
Speaking to the Louisville Courier-Journal, Barnhart said he hasn’t spoken to Brooks since Sunday’s loss, but plans to have a conversation with him shortly. And, when he does, he will attempt to talk the 68-year-old coach into staying.
Provided, that is, Brooks’ heart is still in coaching.
“We’ll see how the conversation goes,” Barnhart said. “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 that he says ‘I really need to have happen for me to stay,’ I’ll say, ‘OK we can do that.’”
There has been some chatter that Brooks’ heart is indeed still into coaching, but he’s unhappy with the level of support from what’s predominantly a basketball school. Specifically, a recruiting lounge that’s been in the works since 2003 -- and hasn’t come to fruition due to increased costs according to Barnhart -- is believed to be an issue for Brooks.
If those are indeed issues, Barnhart has said that he will attempt to address them to Brooks’ satisfaction, saying that “I think we are going to continue to invest in our football program.”
Barnhart also made one thing perfectly clear. He wants Brooks to return.
“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.”