MSU athletic director J Batt departs for University of Kentucky
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 15, 2026, 6:44 PM
Last updated Jun 15, 2026
J Batt is leaving Michigan State University to become the director of athletics at the University of Kentucky, effective June 15, 2026. Within a month of each other, both Batt and President Kevin Guskiewicz announced their departures from MSU. Batt previously joined MSU in June 2025 under a six-year contract valued at $12.6 million and was instrumental in MSU's athletic planning and development, including hiring football coach Pat Fitzgerald. MSU will now look to appoint an interim athletic director and develop a search process for a permanent replacement.
- •J Batt was hired at MSU in June 2025 after working at Georgia Tech.
- •He played a key role in forming Spartan Ventures for NIL revenue.
- •Kentucky Athletics announced his hiring on June 15, 2026.
- •Guskiewicz expressed gratitude for Batt's impact on MSU athletics.
- •MSU will begin the search for an interim athletic director soon.
- 6:44 PMYahoo Sports — MSU athletic director J Batt is leaving for UK. Everything we know
"MSU spent more than $2 million to snag J Batt from Georgia Tech, where he was initially under contract until 2029, and now must start over.
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