J Batt reveals what he will look for in Michigan State coaching hires

The athletic director at a school wears numerous hats. For fanbases, though, they have no more forward-facing job than hiring the coaches to run a school’s athletic programs. Certainly, new Michigan State AD J Batt knows the emphasis that gets put on hiring the right coaches.

Batt spoke about what he’s looking for in a coaching hire. There are a few different traits that he’s looking for in his coaches, but the first thing that he’s looking for is someone who shows good integrity.

“I think there’s certainly some things,” J Batt said. “You start with the integrity, right? Integrity is key at the highest of levels.”

J Batt is coming to Michigan State from Georgia Tech where he held the same AD role. He’s also spent time at Alabama and ECU in assistant roles for their respective athletic departments. While at Georgia Tech, he began multiple infrastructure and fundraising projects. He also made hires in football, men’s basketball, and women’s basketball. Brent Key, the football coach he hired, has been impressive in his brief tenure. Damon Stoudamire, the men’s basketball coach, has shown improvement. Meanwhile, women’s basketball coach Karen Blair was hired in April 2025.

For Batt, making the right hires goes beyond integrity, though. He also knows that a program is judged on winning and that has to be taken into account.

“And then we want an athletic department full of competitors. This is a place in which we’re judged on winning, but doing it the right way. So, those people that fit and make that mold,” Batt said. “And then the fit is truly important. So, zooming out – fit for your place, your program, that timing, all important as you build a team.”

Football and men’s basketball are largely seen as the two most important hires ADs make. At Michigan State, Batt will inherit situations where he hopes to not have to make a hire soon. Football coach Jonathan Smith has only been with the program for one season. Then, Tom Izzo is one of the legends in the game. At the same time, at now 70 years old, it’s not unfair to wonder when retirement could be on his mind.

Oddly enough, Izzo met with Batt before Batt was hired by Michigan State. He had an opportunity to leave his stamp on the athletic department by helping to hire someone who he felt fit what was best from his perspective.

J Batt previews Michigan State fundraising plans amid revenue-sharing preparations

While hiring coaches is vital for an athletic director, behind-the-scenes fundraising is arguably just as important. That’s particularly true in the revenue-sharing and NIL era. So, J Batt also shared his plans to raise money at Michigan State.

“We are going to be extremely successful and competitive in that space. We’re going to be intentional about providing all of our coaches the resources to be successful at a championship level,” Batt said.

“I’ll tell you, I believe as we head into the revenue-share – the post-House settlement [era], hopefully – what that requires will change, and how we approach that space will change. But I can tell you we’ll have a great plan. We’ll be united in that plan, we’ll be aligned in that plan from President [Kevin] Guskiewicz to our coaches to our board as we head into that era.”