Nick Saban gives heavyweight endorsement of Michigan State athletic director hire

Michigan State believes that newly hired athletic director J Batt will provide the leadership required for the Spartans to compete at the highest level amidst the ever-changing landscape of college athletics.

It also seems that influential figures in both college and professional sports share that belief. A handful of those individuals shared their thoughts on the hire of Batt to serve as athletic director at Michigan State on Monday afternoon.

College football coaching legend Nick Saban, who served as the head football coach at Michigan State from 1995-1999, expressed confidence in the direction of Spartan athletics with Batt leading the way.

“As J Batt takes the helm of Michigan State Athletics, the Spartans enter a new era – one defined by hard work, dedication and a relentless drive for excellence,” Saban said in a statement released on X. “In a time of staggering change across college sports, his vision and leadership are exactly what the Spartans need to thrive.”

Saban has a deep understanding of the value Batt brings to the role of athletic director at Michigan State given Batt’s background as executive deputy athletic director, chief operating officer, and chief revenue officer at Alabama from 2017-2022. In that role, Batt was responsible for guiding revenue generation, charitable giving, and ticket sales.

“J did an outstanding job for us at Alabama before taking over a Georgia Tech, where he brought renewed energy and strategic growth to the Yellow Jackets, laying a strong foundation of competitive success. He is a perfect fit in the East Lansing to help build champions on and off the field and leading MSU with purpose into the future.”

Batt has served as the athletic director at Georgia Tech since 2022. During his tenure at Georgia Tech, the institution broke records in fundraising, while also setting records for graduation percentage among student athletes.

During his time at Georgia Tech, Batt made a strong impression on Atlanta Braves President Derek Schiller, who said the following about the newly hired Spartan athletic director in a statement released by Michigan State Athletics on X.

 “J is an incredible accomplished sports executive who will bring a wealth of experience to Michigan State,” Schiller said. “There is no doubt that he is the right person to lead the Spartans at this pivotal time in collegiate athletics and position them for success well into the future. Michigan State is lucky to have such a dedicated and passionate executive on their team and I wish him nothing but the best.”

Statements from Saban and Schiller echo earlier endorsements of Batt’s hire by Michigan State president Kevin Guskiewicz and Hall of Fame basketball coach Tom Izzo.

“J has an impressive record at several Power 5 schools and an impeccable reputation as a strong and innovative leader,” Guskiewicz said. “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.”

“This is a key moment in the history of Michigan State Athletics,” added Izzo. “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.”  

Batt will be formally introduced as Michigan State athletic director at a press conference on Wednesday. The MSU Board of Trustees will vote on Batt’s contract when they meet on June 13. Batt’s first day as Spartan athletic director is June 16.