UK Trustees Approve Willoughby Hire

{Kentucky}...Tuesday, University of Kentucky trustees approved hiring Kirby Willoughby, the daughter of Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart, as a graduate assistant in the athletics department. At least two trustees, Barbara Young and Jo Hern Curris, opposed the appointment of Willoughby. UK has an anti-nepotism policy that doesn't allow relatives of its administrative leadership team to be employed in the area the person oversees, but the director of athletics isn't specifically listed in the policy. UK spokesman Jay Blanton says President Eli Capilouto thinks Barnhart's job is equivalent to the positions covered and decided to seek board approval for the sake of transparency. Capilouto recommended approval of the appointment.