This story has been updated:
Michigan State University President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D., with the support of the Board of Trustees, has selected J Batt as the university’s next vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics, according to a press release from the school.
Batt currently serves as the vice president and director of athletics at Georgia Tech, where he has led the department since 2022.
“J has an impressive record at several Power 5 schools and an impeccable reputation as a strong and innovative leader,” Guskiewicz said. “He will bring experience, excitement and a commitment to elevating Spartan athletics to the next level. We are thrilled to have J join our leadership team at Michigan State.”
There will be a welcome reception and press conference on Wednesday, June 4 on campus at MSU. Batt’s contract and appointment as vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics will be voted on by the Board of Trustees at its June 13 meeting, with his first official day in East Lansing on Monday, June 16.
EAST LANSING, MI — Michigan State University is seeing dollar signs as it prepares to announce the hiring of a new athletic director at the school. Media partner 6 News WLNS TV in Lansing is reporting the school is hiring J Batt as AD. At Michigan State, his top priorities will be to raise money and help the football program win.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Sunday because the president’s hopes of hiring the Georgia Tech athletic director had not been announced. Michigan State is expected to announce Batt is Guskiewicz’s pick as soon as Monday, according to WLNS.
Batt’s background is in fundraising, a huge asset for any athletic department in this era of college athletics. He guided the launch of a 10-year, $600 million fundraising campaign to benefit Crimson Tide athletics. He helped raise $78.2 million for athletics in his first fiscal year at Georgia Tech to surpass the previous single-year mark by more than 40%.
Previously, Batt was executive deputy athletics director at Alabama and served as chief operating officer and chief revenue officer in the athletic department.
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