EAST LANSING, Mich. (WXYZ) — J Batt, who had been Michigan State's athletic director for just over a year, is leaving the university to take the same job at the University of Kentucky, UK announced on Monday morning.
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“Across these institutions, J has distinguished himself as a record-breaker in fundraising and as a leader who strategically invests in facilities to maximize resources and revenue,” UK President Eli Capilouto said in a press release. “As important, he has remained focused on ensuring student-athletes compete at the highest levels while being prepared for lives of meaning and purpose.”
At MSU, Batt helped secure a $400 million commitment, the largest single athletics gift in MSU's history. About $290 million of the donation is in support of MSU Athletics’ FOR SPARTA initiative, MSU said when the donation was announced in September. The university announced a $1 billion initiative called FOR SPARTA last year, aimed to help elevate athletic facilities, including a re-imagined Spartan Stadium.
Batt was announced as MSU's hire just 13 months ago. He came to East Lansing after working as Georgia Tech's athletic director for just under three years (October 2022-2025. He previously worked for the athletic department at the University of Alabama, serving as chief operating officer and chief revenue officer.
Batt has previously worked at East Carolina, Maryland, James Madison, William & Mary and North Carolina, his alma mater. At UNC, he was part of the men's soccer team that won the 2001 NCAA championship.
MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D., issued the statement below regarding Athletic Director J Batt moving on from Michigan State University:
I appreciate the energy and innovation that J Batt brought to Spartan Athletics over this past year. He has set our athletics department on a positive path, one that our outstanding and dedicated team will continue driving forward. During his tenure, he helped position our athletics program for success in a rapidly changing collegiate landscape while advancing our commitment to competitive excellence, academic achievement, and the student-athlete experience. Amy and I both wish J, Leah and their family happiness and success in Kentucky.
I will be working with university and athletics department leadership over the coming days to name an interim and outline a search process for moving forward. We remain committed to supporting our student-athletes, coaches, staff, alumni and fans while continuing to pursue excellence in all that we do.
Students at MSU are responding to another wave of leadership turnover.
Hannah Mahn, a recent graduate of the MSU School of Law, said the repeated turnover reflects deeper dysfunction at the top of the university.
"There is a lot of tension between the President and the board. It doesn't seem like student concerns are actually being heard because there is so much tension," Mahn said.
The frustration comes on the heels of tough criticism from basketball coach Tom Izzo, who called on 600,000 MSU alumni to stand up and rally for more accountability from university leadership.
Students say they want whoever fills the athletic director role to be committed to the long-term growth of MSU athletics.
"As a student athlete, what do you want to see happen with the AD position? Keeping somebody around MSU who is looking to continue developing sports and find more resources," Antonio Harrison, a senior on the MSU wrestling team, said.
Junior Niemah Hogue said students have been vocal about their needs, but feel those concerns are going unaddressed.
"There's a lot of things students say especially, like, on the MSU Instagram, they say we want more programs, more this, and more funding, especially with the funding situation," Hogue said.
I reached out to the university to request an interview with members of the Board of Trustees, but was told they were not available.
Former Athletic Director Mark Hollis is among those who have said they would be interested in the AD role.
Harrison said the back-to-back departures caught him off guard.
"I was really shocked, actually, and thought the Athletic Director and President were doing a really good job," Harrison said.
Mahn said resolving internal conflict within university leadership will be key to moving forward.
"Seems like they have a lot of internal conflicts among them. Maybe working those out would help it be more productive," Mahn said.
Several faculty members declined to go on camera but said they want to keep their focus on students and research.
