Joker Phillips has been fired, per open letter from Mitch Barnhart
Mitch Barnhart released an open letter to Big Blue Nation in which he let it be known that head football coach Joker Phillips has been fired. According to the letter, “After much conversation, evaluation and prayer, I have determined that it is in the best interest of our athletics program to make a change in our football coaching staff at the conclusion of the season. Joker Phillips has carried the banner for the Blue and White with honor and pride. The search for a new head coach will begin immediately and will be managed internally. I understand the challenge and significance of finding a new leader for our football program. It will be done with great concern for our student-athletes, students of UK, the #BBN and the citizens of the Commonwealth.”
DeWayne Peevy says there will be no press conference and there are not any current plans for one at all.
83 Comments for Joker Phillips has been fired, per open letter from Mitch Barnhart
Finally.
“Bout Time!”
A year too late, but….a great opportunity to get someone great. I say go all in on Tressel. All he does is win.
Tough to hear that. Joker was a really good guy, but bring on Kirby Smart!!!
Thank you. So much. Only one to go.
Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Finally!!!!!!!!!!
That moment you have been hoping and anticipating for yet you still feel empty and underwhelmed.
Right time for this move. but let’s all show respect for Joker. It didn’t work out, but the man is a wildcat through and through, and a good person to boot. It’s a shame he couldn’t make it work.
Thank you Joker for your time here! Wish it could have worked out, i don’t celebrate any man losing his job, but its time to move forward! Go cats!
Gruden, Smart, mangini, herm edwards! Come on down. Do the right thing mitch and make somebody like this one of the highest paid coaches in the country like you said youre capable and not afraid of doing. As long as its not fulmer or petrino
Richard P, get screwed!
Time to get the Tressel Train rollin!
@10 when will the world be rid of people like you? I hope you’re just being ironic.
#8 got it right. Joker has been 1st class. Results were not acceptable, so a change was needed. For those wishing for Tressel, please stop. The man is a known cheater. I have no desire for that at UK.
10- Wow, you ignorant ass. why don’t you go back to 1960
Happy but so sad I want to cry at same time. Joker is a great Kentuckian and I hope everyone shows up and sends him out with class and the loud ovation he deserves. Thank you Joker for all you’ve done for BBN.
Someone please moderate #10 on out of here asap.
Please Barnhart make a great hire… Cause if NOT Kentucky football will be going through same thing in 3-5 years!!!!! Throw some money at really good coach BBN is begging you and do all needed possible for UK football to be a success… Heres looking at you Kirby Smart!!!!!
I’m holding my own press conference to fire Mitch for calling bbn racist and some of us not true fans. Eat me Barnfart
Let’s hope the good lord told him to hire Petrino while he was praying.
Joker is okay. Can’t stand Randy Sanders. He was the downfall!
Ok, that is good news. Thank you very much Joker, I know you tried hard. Now, if Barnfart could find the cajones to apologize to the fans….. Oh yea he won’t we are stupid automatons with checkbooks.
One man down, keep the fire lit so the fool AD goes with him!!
Not me, the real #10 got deleted.
I hate to see this but it had to happen. Joker is a class act and a true Kentucky man. I wish him the best!
Joker is a very good man, but it was time for a change. Just hope Mitch brings in someone who can get things changed around.
ATTENDANCE: 44,902
Please delete #10! CatGrad7072 that kind of talk doesn’t belong here!
It sad to see anyone fired. Now isn’t the time to dwell on his failure to keep things from declining, but it’s time to get behind the players who will feel responsible for Joker’s termination.
When you bring on folks who haven’t really succeeded in the past, and I’m thinking Minter here, you’re setting yourself up for failure.
I do agree it was bad, but it does not matter who they bring in, there not going
to win here. Kentucky will have a ok team once every what 8 to 10 years, they can’t get the players to compete in this league, god damn theyhttp://bikerace.me/zVHB8g should know this shit already. We’re happy we fired a coach who was the only one who beat Tennessee, who cares we won’t beet em for another 25, this football team will be bad no matter who the coach is.
3&4 Smart isn’t coming anywhere close to UK and neither is Tresses. Petrino won’t either. UK has 4 choices :
1- Mark Helfrich
2- Sonny Dykes
3- Cutcliffe
4- Neal Brown
Now, Mitch go out there with an open checkbook and get us a great coach. Dont be stingy.
# 10 and # 15, make it 1860 !
No disrespect to Ally or Will, but where the hell is Matt Jones???
BLAT!
I hope we go after Frank Solich from Ohio University.
Now that the boom has dropped on Joker I can’t wait for all the fans to start ragging on Mitch to go after Saban by offering him more $$$ than Alabama. It seems most fans think money is all it takes to attract a “big name” to UK football. If only it were that easy.
Typical that Barnhart announces this with a letter and won’t face the fans or media to take questions or discuss the situation. It also makes me nervous that he makes it a point to say the hire will be managed internally. Seems like some top secret shenanigans going on that he – again – doesn’t want to explain or discuss with the public.
Helfrich Helfrich Helfrich. Not sorry for Joker he makes 3.4 million gettin fired
Guess Mitch has a personal agenda against Joker.
The man was a drain on the program and he has been well paid. He needs to get himself on outta town with his millions and never return. Now it’s time for a new coach and a new AD. Barnhart has cost the University millions with his bad hires, lack of ticket sales, and mismanagement. If he were in private business or politics he would been gone long ago.
I’m liking that Solich idea.
Petrino = no thank you
Well said, # 7. It’s sadness and elation all at once.
Sad and hopeful equals a strange feeling. No matter what anyone writes. This is sad for the real fans no matter what anyone thinks we never wanted Joker to fail. He is and was a Wildcat before I was even born. I hope the crazy posters can show him the respect he deserves. Thank you Joker for giving it all you had. That is all you can ever do in life.
With a heavy heart. Good luck whatever you do Joker. Go Big Blue.
too bad. it would have been great having a UK guy right the football program and making us competitive in the sec, but it didn’t happen. maybe someone, someday.
#32, I think Matt gets the occasional day off.
Are you kidding? Fire Mitch? Practically every competitive sport at UK is excelling except for football. Joker Phillips wasn’t even really Mitch’s hire. He signed the last line of the piece of paper but it was all Rich Brooks that put that into motion. Barnhart has done an incredible job as AD so far and he knows that he has to get this one right to put butts back into seats at Commonwealth. I have total faith that its exactly what he’s going to do.
Better hire a coach before TN fires Dooley
29- Mitch said in his letter that he wants to compete for SEC Championships. That pretty much excludes all of the slugs you named in your 1-4 list.
@ 47 so lets bring on Kirby Smart or Todd Granthm SEC 2013 champs! or runner up
It only took two losing seasons. A half dozen or so blow outs. Losing to a sun belt team. Dropping below a .500 overall record for the first time in 100 years, and being shutout in commonwealth stadium by a private school that values academics more than athletics in front of a crowd that would’ve made rupp arena seem half empty. But you finally pulled the trigger. As far as joker is concerned he better stay near his phone cause if Barnhart doesn’t turn the ship around quickly we will have an AD opening that he could fill.
Kirby smart will come to uk with a 2+ million dollar paycheck. Gus Malzahn wouldn’t be a bad hire he has Arkansas state competing in the sun belt conference after his first year.
29/37) that’s the man we need. You all have the right idea . Helfrich is the guy!
Anybody got faith in Barnhart being able to lead the search to get a top tier FB coach?…I don’t!
Wish we could afford Jon Gruden !!
Yeah, I still haven’t heard an apology. No money from me until I do.
So, Auburn, Tenn, Arkansas, and Kentucky will be looking for coaches after the season. How in the heck does UK pull in anyone good with 3 better programs in the SEC also looking for coaches? UK is 4th on the list just for SEC jobs!
Hopefully, Mitch Barnhart is serious about that last line and the Board of Trustees and the UKAA are on board as well.
UK has given much lip service to the idea of a real football program at UK. They’ve never lived up to the talk, though. If UK is to be serious about football, it must be committed to massive change. A whole new approach is needed and perhaps a whole new Board of Trustees will be necessary.
The entire culture must change for UK to become a championship contender in the SEC and the BCS.
In 2008, Dabo Swinney was not a house hold name. Now he is my favorite college football coach. He’s young, energetic, passionate, he can recruit, he knows alabama, south carolina, and georgia very well. I don’t care if it’s a big name or maybe one we are not familiar with. But please don’t get some sunbelt coach. A top notch assistant from SEC/BIG 10 country is what we need. Swinney would only leave Clemson for Alabama, and definitely never UK. But get somebody with his enthusiasm. And like Swinney, get somebody who has proven that they can beat Spurrier and Richt, etc.
Kirby Smart, Dan Mullen, Todd Grantham, Gus Malzahn, Brent Venables, Luke Fickell
Have been hearing for some time that there is a push by board members for Phil Fulmer. They are hiring internally, so he’s got a short list of coaches that have probably expressed mutual interest.
48 – Petrino is the best option for UK.
Today’s the day everyone simply dreams of who will next coach on the sidelines. My vote would go to Tony Dungy – a proven winner, a man with class, character and integrity – and he would emphasize turning players into quality young men.
People dont Mitch show their ignorance. Do you not recall righting the wrong that was Billy G with Cal? Has that not worked out or something? Mitch is a great AD, he knows he has to get a good coach, he isnt dumb. Some of you really make me wanns smack you.
I think Joker potentially sitting out the final two games indicates that Tressel is definitely on the short list. Hire him now and he can sit out two games of his 5-game suspension this season.
Don’t like Mitch*
I’ve heard from some internal staff and athletics officials that Phil Fulmer is a top candidate…..Mitch has known the man for years….worked with him at Tennessee….and he is 62 and won’t be looking for a bigger job or be leaving us for a bigger school…..Mitch loves to hire old people….i.e. Rich Brooks
Hire Mike Holcomb! If he can win in Jackson he can win in Lexington!!!
I think Joker is OK I guess as a guy. But you try to sell me on how much he loves this university and week after week drove it into the abyss of college football? Barnhardt should have done this at least 3 weeks ago before the program and university’s football reputation were decimated like it is currently.
They better hire the best defensive cord out there for the head coaching job, we always lack defense, Randy Sanders was the prob with our offense, Joker did a better job as off cord.
I’ve also been hearing Fulmer for quite some time. I do think that’s the direction we’ll ultimately go. However, if you’re going to do that, why not let Joker coach out the season?
Chad Morris(Clem,OC), Sonny Dykes(LA TECH,HC), Kirby Smart(BAMA,DC), Mark Helfrich(ORE,OC), Mike Leach(WashSt.,HC), Jim Tressel(OSU,HC), Frank Wilson(LSU,Recruit Corr)????, Hal Mumme(Former UK HC)????. Any would be a great choice!
A weight has been lifted, but it appears Mitch ia scared…If you believe in God you have no fear. He seems to be weak, don’t take an AD job if you got no balls. The world is full of pussies Be A Man. Mitch.Pardon my French
Claude Bassett…..he would be great!! LOL
I hate seeing anyone loosing their job, but this had to be done.
Just throwing this out there because I have not seen this scenario mentioned before. Just something that would be interesting to see what others think.
What about Mike Tomlin? I know it would be a far stretch, but given the friendship between he and Coach Cal, I think there is a slim possibility of something playing out there. I don’t know if Tomlin would step to the college ranks, especially with the success he is having with the Steelers, but it would be a great hire in my mind and is something I could see happening.
GIT EM OUUUUUUUT!!!!!!!
If Bitch hires Philip Fulmer I will not wstch football til he’s gone…and if he actually thinks that’s a good hire ….THE BITCH HAS TO GO…
Tomlin??? You’re CRAZY!!! Although it would be awesome to have him!
Mike Tomlin? Is that serious? You know he coaches in the NFL right?
I don’t feel bad for Phillips; he will be paid $2.55 million over the remaining two years of his contract. This is BCG all over again….
I am tired of this bullcrap..”fine man” “class act”….if he were these things he would not be out in the community flaunting his piece of a** on the side Mary Jo Perino. that is classLESS and not what is representative of what student athletes need to be shown from someone leading and supposedly giving them life lessons. So bring on a new coach and staff and turn this around for the fans instead of the prima donnas in administration and spend th emoney for the BBN and not each other.
I am surprised. This decision was sorely needed. We need new blood and hopefully we will get a coach who actually coaches DURING a game instead of taking notes. Getting rid of Randy Sanders and the Nuclear dude is an added bonus.
Those of you wondering where Matt is (he did post the first Joker fired post just after 3), he said on his show that he would be emceeing the dinner banquet the UK Athletic Dept. is hosting for the Transy basketball team today. That is probably where Barnhart is also.
WE TRUE FANS DON’T NEED A press conference we see your cowardice a mile away…Everyone wave goodbye to Mitch the Bitch as he realizes too late..way too, about a year, late for most fans, that is his job to speak as the director of this university, THAT’S YOUR JOB…IT’S IN THE DESCRIPTION..
I know the Mike Tomlin idea is a super far reach and we can all say with certainty that it won’t happen.
However, there is this guy whose name has been thrown around as being a potential coach for UK who was also an NFL coach in 2007 and left before the season ended for a college level job. Clearly different circumstances but certainly not unprecedented.
I was just looking at this from a different and unique angle. However, I have my realistic thoughts of who I would like to see as head coach and none of them are currently in the NFL.
Mike Tomlin coaches the Pittsburgh Steelers last I heard. Duh.