Michigan State University announced on Monday its decision to hire J Batt as the new vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics. Batt steps into the role following his tenure as the athletic director at Georgia Tech, which commenced in the fall of 2022.
Kevin Guskiewicz, President of Michigan State University, praised Batt’s extensive experience and leadership qualities in a statement, saying, “J has an impressive record at several Power 5 schools and an impeccable reputation as a strong and innovative leader.” He added that Batt is expected to infuse a fresh wave of energy and dedication to Michigan State athletics.
The selection process for a new athletic director was underway for a month, with guidance from Tom Izzo, a Hall of Fame basketball coach, who hailed Batt’s appointment as “a key moment in the history of Michigan State Athletics.” The search followed Alan Haller’s departure, whose last working day was May 11. The Board of Trustees at the university will make the decision official with a vote scheduled for June 13. An introductory press conference is slated for Wednesday.
During his time at Georgia Tech, Batt made notable hires, including football coach Brent Key, who brought consecutive winning seasons to the program after four consecutive losing ones. He also hired Damon Stoudamire, the former NBA player, to coach the basketball team, which completed last season at .500.
Before Georgia Tech, Batt served at Alabama as the executive deputy athletic director and took on roles such as chief operating officer and chief revenue officer within the athletic department. Batt’s knack for fundraising stands out as a key strength, particularly significant in the current landscape of college sports.
While at Alabama, he spearheaded the launch of an ambitious 10-year, $600 million fundraising campaign aimed at benefitting the Crimson Tide athletics. At Georgia Tech, Batt facilitated the collection of $78.2 million in his initial fiscal year, surpassing their previous annual record by over 40%.
At Michigan State, Batt is poised to prioritize funding and the enhancement of the football program, with the latter being a focal point considering the Spartans’ recent struggles. In response to his appointment, Batt expressed his enthusiasm by stating, “This is truly an amazing opportunity to lead an outstanding, tradition-rich and passionate program, and I am grateful to President Guskiewicz and the Board of Trustees for the opportunity.”
In a significant upcoming change, universities will soon have the ability to distribute up to $20.5 million directly to athletes as revenue shares. These payments will be in addition to deals made with school-affiliated collectives based on athletes’ names, images, and likenesses.
Under the previous athletic director, Haller, Michigan State saw success across several sports, with Big Ten championships in men’s basketball, women’s soccer, women’s gymnastics, men’s hockey, and women’s cross country. However, their football team has faced challenges, enduring three consecutive losing seasons and trimming expectations with a 5-7 overall record and 3-6 in the Big Ten under coach Jonathan Smith.