Coaches react to Dr. Todd’s retirement plans

Next summer, the Immortal Eleven (the unofficial name for the exclusive UK Presidents Club) will become the Eternal Twelve (work in progress) once Dr. Lee Todd officially retires next summer after 10 years on the job.

Here are some responses from UK athletic coaches, per a UK media release:

UK Athletics Director, Mitch Barnhart

“I’m extremely happy for Lee and Patsy, who have given their heart and soul to the University of Kentucky and the state of Kentucky for the last 10 years. It’s always great when a person gets to enjoy looking back and seeing all the accomplishments that they have created, and he has certainly done that for the university.

“From an athletics perspective, he has been a great friend and a great proponent of raising the bar of athletics at the University of Kentucky. We’re thankful that we could have been a part of that and we’re hopeful that we added to the accomplishments that Lee and Patsy will greatly look back upon. We wish them all the best in their retirement. We know that he will continue to make a long-lasting contribution to every facet of life in the state of Kentucky.”

UK Football Coach Joker Phillips

“The University is losing a great ambassador.  Dr. Todd is a tremendous advocate of our University and our state.   I’m both happy and sad – happy for him to be able to retire and also sad for our University to see him leave.”

UK Men’s Basketball Coach John Calipari

“Dr. Todd called me this morning and left a message on my phone and when I listened to it, it made me sick to my stomach because of my confidence in him as a leader. He’s maybe my best recruiter. Every player that comes on this campus has a chance to meet our president, who went to school here and taught here. On the other side, I’m happy for him and his wife. But it’s a big loss. This is not like, ‘Let’s just get another guy’. This is a big loss.”

UK Women’s Basketball Coach Matthew Mitchell

“Dr. Todd was an extraordinary leader for this university. The example he set with his leadership was an inspiration to me personally and to all the people in leadership roles at UK. He is a man of great integrity and it is clear to me that his passion for UK is extremely sincere. It’s an honor to work under him and I will forever be grateful to him for giving me the opportunity to work at this great institution. He will be greatly missed. I know his legacy will be admired for a long time and he’ll be remembered as one of the greatest presidents in UK history.”

UK Women’s Soccer Coach Jon Lipsitz

“Dr. Todd has worked incredibly hard to create the profile of this university and has been tremendously successful in the push to create both academic and athletic excellence. If he feels it’s his time for a rest, he’s certainly earned it. We greatly appreciate everything he has done academically and athletically for this university. I couldn’t imagine working for somebody that’s both a greater president or a greater human being than President Todd.

“On a personal level, it’s been wonderful to meet him and his wife Patsy. As a newcomer to this state and this university to see their passion for the Commonwealth, the university and UK athletics is very infectious. Getting to meet them has certainly had a great effect on my family in our short time here.”