Kentucky hires J Batt as new athletics director and CEO
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 15, 2026, 6:21 PM
Last updated Jun 15, 2026
Kentucky has finalized a six-year agreement to hire J Batt as its new athletics director and CEO of Champions Blue, its for-profit LLC. Batt moves from his position at Michigan State, having previously been the deputy AD at Alabama and athletics director at Georgia Tech. He replaces Mitch Barnhart, who is retiring after serving as athletics director since 2002. Batt's hiring comes as Kentucky's football program transitions under new head coach Will Stein, following Barnhart's lengthy tenure.
- •J Batt signs a six-year deal with Kentucky.
- •Batt previously held positions at Michigan State and Georgia Tech.
- •Mitch Barnhart retires after over two decades as AD.
- •Batt also becomes CEO of Champions Blue.
- •Kentucky's football program is under new coach Will Stein.
- 6:21 PMYahoo Sports — Kentucky poaches Big Ten admin to replace longtime AD Mitch Barnhart
"J Batt, a former deputy athletics director at Alabama, is returning to the SEC after stints as the AD at Georgia Tech and Michigan State.
Sources
External linksOriginal reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days
NCAAF•Jun 15, 2026, 8:10 PMNCAA files appeal in Brendan Sorsby case, seeks stay of injunction- NCAAF•Jun 15, 2026, 8:00 PMTE Jalen Hoffman’s path to Michigan Football, outlook for 2026
- NCAAF•Jun 15, 2026, 7:57 PMLSU football flips 3-star 2027 OT Amaziah Siale from Cal
- College Sports•Jun 15, 2026, 7:56 PMEvery game time for New Mexico State football in 2026
- College Sports•Jun 15, 2026, 7:54 PMOregon star OF Angel Laya enters transfer portal
- College Sports•Jun 15, 2026, 7:28 PMTexas A&M baseball junior infielder transferring to SEC foe
