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Michigan State expected to hire Georgia Tech's J Batt as next athletic director

On3 imageby: Jake Lyskawa06/01/25jakelyskawa
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets athletic director J Batt on the field before a game against the Boston College Eagles at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. - Brett Davis, USA TODAY Sports
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets athletic director J Batt on the field before a game against the Boston College Eagles at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. - Brett Davis, USA TODAY Sports

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State is expected to hire J Batt as its next athletic director, according to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel, and overtures from Michigan State University sources confirmed by SpartanMag.com. Batt, who will replace Alan Haller, has spent nearly three years as athletic director at Georgia Tech.

Thamel posted to Twitter on Sunday that Batt and Michigan State will agree to a deal “in the near future.”

Georgia Tech hired Batt on Oct. 14, 2022. The university added vice president to his title on Dec. 6, 2024. In December 2024, Batt signed a five-year contract extension with Georgia Tech that was to boost his annual salary to $979,000 and keep him in Atlanta until 2029, according to Thamel.

Batt’s most significant moves at Georgia Tech include hiring Brent Key as football coach and Damon Stoudamire as basketball coach.

After serving as interim head coach in 2022, Key earned a full-time position prior to the 2023 season. Key has an 18-16 (14-9) record in three years as head coach. The Yellowjackets have qualified for a bowl game in each of the last two seasons.

Stoudamire, a 13-year NBA veteran, has a 31-35 (17-23) record in two seasons at the helm.

Batt also helped raise $78.2 million for the Alexander-Tharpe Fund (Georgia Tech’s primary athletic fundraising arm) during his first full fiscal year in charge. He oversaw the launch of a $500 million athletic fundraising initiative called Full Steam Ahead, $300 million of which has already been pledged. Full Steam Ahead is designed to raise money for facility renovations, among other projects, at Georgia Tech.

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.

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.

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.

He 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.

Michigan State president Kevin Guskiewicz served as a member of North Carolina’s faculty from 1995 until his appointment to university chancellor in 2019.

More coverage and analysis to come.

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