University of Kentucky Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart released an "open letter to Big Blue Nation" on Sunday, in which he announced UK football coach Joker Phillips will not return next season. Phillips will coach the rest of the season.Kentucky is in the midst of a 1-9 season and takes a week off this Saturday before finishing the year with a home game against Samford on Nov. 17 and a visit to Tennessee on Nov. 24.

The Wildcats lost to Vanderbilt 40-0 on Saturday in a poorly attended game at Commonwealth Stadium that continued a downward cycle of dwindling home crowds the past two seasons.Phillips, in his third season as head coach, is 12-23 as coach of the Cats.