Mark Hollis tells AP he's interested in Michigan State AD job after Kentucky hires J Batt
AP News • • sports
Key Points:
- The University of Kentucky has hired J Batt as its new athletic director, succeeding Mitch Barnhart, who is retiring after serving since 2002.
- Batt previously worked at Michigan State and Georgia Tech, with a background in leadership roles at Alabama and a reputation for record-breaking fundraising and strategic facility investments.
- Batt’s departure is a setback for Michigan State, which is also losing its president, Kevin M. Guskiewicz, to Clemson, and has sparked former AD Mark Hollis to express interest in returning to lead the Spartans' athletic department.
- Mark Hollis, who retired in 2018 amid the Larry Nassar scandal fallout, is a Michigan State alumnus known for innovative initiatives and hiring successful coaches like Mark Dantonio.
- Kentucky’s President Eli Capilouto emphasized the university's commitment to maintaining a championship standard with Batt’s hiring, while outgoing AD Barnhart will not take on a high-paying role amid scrutiny from the state governor.
