Michigan State officially names J Batt next athletic director

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State has a new athletic director.

The Spartans announced Monday morning that J Batt will serve as the university’s next vice president and director of athletics, confirming reports released Sunday afternoon. Batt will replace Alan Haller, who was let go on May 1 after nearly four years in the role.

Michigan State president Kevin Guskiewicz, with the support of the university board of trustees, made the selection. The board of trustees will vote on Batt’s contract and appointment at its June 13 meeting. Batt will be introduced at a press conference on June 4, and his first day will be June 16.

“J has an impressive record at several Power Five schools and an impeccable reputation as a strong and innovative leader,” Guskiewicz said in a statement released by the university. “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.”

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Batt has served as athletic director at Georgia Tech since 2022. Known for his fundraising prowess, Batt helped raise $78.2 million for the athletics-based Alexander-Tharpe Fund at Georgia Tech during his first full fiscal year in charge, which broke the previous single-year record by 43 percent.

Batt also oversaw the launch of a $500 million athletic fundraising initiative at Georgia Tech called Full Steam Ahead, which is designed to raise money for athletic facility renovations, among other projects.

In 2023, Batt orchestrated a multi-decade partnership between Georgia Tech and Hyundai, which resulted in Hyundai earning naming rights for the field at Bobby Dodd Stadium.

Batt also serves on the House Settlement Implementation Committee and as a chair of the College Football Hall of Fame.

On the field, Batt elevated Brent Key from interim head football coach to a permanent position prior to the 2023 season. Key has led the Yellowjackets to back-to-back bowl berths for the first time in a decade.

Batt also hired Georgia Tech men’s basketball coach Damon Stoudamire, who has a 31-35 (17-23) record in two seasons at the helm.

“This is truly an amazing opportunity to lead an outstanding, tradition-rich and passionate program, and I am grateful to President Guskiewicz and the Board of Trustees for the opportunity,” Batt said in a statement released by the university. “Working together, in alignment with university leadership, the full athletics department and an enthusiastic fan base, we can take the positive momentum already happening at MSU and reach new levels of success as we move into the next era of intercollegiate athletics. My family and I look forward to joining the Michigan State and East Lansing communities.”

Prior to his time at Georgia Tech, Batt spent five years (2017-22) as the executive deputy director of athletics, chief operating officer and chief revenue officer at Alabama. There, he oversaw the launch of the Crimson Standard, a $600 million initiative to improve facilities and other aspects of the student-athlete experience. He also served as the administrator for the men’s basketball team.

“This is a key moment in the history of Michigan State Athletics,” said Michigan State men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo, who served as co-interim athletic director alongside Jennifer Smith following Haller’s departure. “With J Batt’s hiring, President Kevin Guskiewicz has found the right person to lead our department as college athletics continues to evolve. J has displayed tremendous innovation as a leader and has a proven track record of revenue generation. We are excited to welcome J and his family to Michigan State.”

From 2013-17, Batt served as East Carolina’s senior associate athletic director and executive director of the school’s primary athletic fundraising arm, the Pirate Club.

Prior to that, Batt spent two years (2011-13) as associate athletic director at Maryland, where he also served as executive director of the Terrapin Club, which raises money for the school’s athletic department. He began his time at Maryland as a Terrapin Club staff member in 2009. 

Batt has also held athletic fundraising positions at James Madison, William & Mary and North Carolina.

Batt graduated from North Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication and a master’s degree in sports administration. He was a member of the Tar Heels’ 2001 national champion men’s soccer team.

Guskiewicz served as a member of North Carolina’s faculty from 1995 until his appointment to university chancellor in 2019. Following the announcement of Batt’s hiring, Guskiewicz sent a letter to the Michigan State community:

“Spartan community,

It is with great enthusiasm that I share a significant and exciting development for Michigan State University.

Following a national search, I am pleased to announce the appointment of J Batt as the next director of athletics at Michigan State University. J is a visionary leader with a strong record of success, a deep commitment to student-athlete development and a passion for building championship-caliber programs rooted in integrity and academic excellence.

Michigan State Athletics is on the rise. Over the past year, our teams have delivered powerful performances and achieved notable success across the board. From Big Ten championships in men’s basketball, women’s gymnastics and men’s hockey to historic NCAA tournament appearances in multiple sports, our teams, athletes and department staff continue to represent MSU with pride on the national stage. This spring, our student-athletes posted a cumulative GPA of 3.3744, the highest in department history. Our collective Spartan spirit has never been stronger.

These accomplishments reflect the resilience, drive and dedication that define Spartan Nation — and they form a strong foundation for even greater success in the years to come.

J Batt brings to East Lansing a powerful combination of strategic leadership and deep collegiate athletics experience. At Georgia Tech, he led unprecedented growth in both fundraising and facilities development, and prior to that, as a senior athletics administrator at the University of Alabama, he was instrumental in building national championship programs and elevating student-athlete support systems.

J is committed to excellence in every dimension of the student-athlete experience: competitive success, academic achievement, personal development and community engagement. His vision aligns seamlessly with our institutional values and our shared commitment to integrity, equity and the holistic development of all who wear the Green and White.

As we welcome J Batt and his family into the Spartan community, I want to express my deep gratitude to co-interim athletic directors Jen Smith and Tom Izzo for their leadership during this transitional period and for their continued contributions to MSU.

Together, with J’s leadership, we look ahead to a future defined by unity, excellence and a relentless pursuit of greatness — on the field, in the classroom and in the world.

Go Green. Go White.

Sincerely,

Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D.”