Kentucky set to hire Michigan State AD J Batt
On3 • • sports
Key Points:
- Kentucky is set to hire Michigan State’s J Batt as its next athletic director, replacing Mitch Barnhart, who is retiring after nearly 25 years.
- Batt, regarded as a top fundraiser in college athletics, was hired at Michigan State just last June and quickly made significant moves, including hiring Pat Fitzgerald as head football coach and creating Spartan Ventures for external revenue.
- Prior to Michigan State, Batt served as Georgia Tech’s athletic director and held key roles at Alabama, where he launched a $600 million capital campaign, as well as positions at East Carolina, Maryland, James Madison, William & Mary, and North Carolina.
- Kentucky president Eli Capilouto praised Batt for his record-breaking fundraising and strategic investment in facilities, highlighting the importance of his hire for roster fundraising efforts under coaches Will Stein and Mark Pope.
- Batt’s departure adds to recent administrative turnover at Michigan State, with his successor becoming the Spartans’ fourth athletic director since 2021.
