Lawson credits athletics director Mitch Barnhart for providing unwavering support of the softball program that includes one of the nation’s best softball facilities at John Cropp Stadium, the host of this year’s SEC Tournament.
“Mitch is an elite athletic director. I know he gets a hard time from some but that’s the nature of the job. He is an amazing human being. That doesn’t always come through because he has that grumpy expression but he would give me a kidney if I needed it,” Lawson said.
“He cares so passionately about you. From an AD standpoint, his support for women’s athletics is off the charts. We are the only team in our climate that consistently has gone to the postseason and a lot is because he puts money into travel and facilities for us. We have the longest tenured staff in the SEC and that matters,” the UK coach said.
She admires that Barnhart’s pattern is predictable.
“If things are not going well he becomes front and center. When you are winning, he just stays in the background,” Lawson said. “He is the type of AD that gets out in front of things and takes bullets for his coaches and people. It is rare to see leaders do that. Most go back and find a scapegoat. Mitch is the opposite of that but most people don’t realize that.”
Facility improvements at John Cropp Stadium that Barnhart has initiated/approved have made it possible for UK to host the SEC Tournament starting May 5.
“It is going to be an incredible experience. I believe this will be the last time it will be on a college campus for the foreseeable future,” Lawson said. “We want to make sure it is a special experience for athletes on the other teams and their fans, too. Our operations staff has been working on this since last spring. I really trust our staff and what they have done.
“In the past 100 percent of the teams that have hosted the tournament have gotten facility upgrades so they could be the host. We are lucky John Cropp Stadium was already in great shape. We have increased seating and even then I suspect the tournament will sell out quickly.”
