Latest news with #Batt
USA Today
8 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Highlights, full video from new MSU Athletic Director J Batt's introductory press conference
Highlights, full video from new MSU Athletic Director J Batt's introductory press conference Michigan State formally introduced J Batt as the Spartans' next athletic director on Wednesday. Batt's introductory press conference was held on Wednesday, with the former Georgia Tech athletic director having the first opportunity to speak on his plan at Michigan State. Batt had some notable quotes during his introductory press conference, which are highlighted below. Batt comes to Michigan State after serving as the Georgia Tech athletic director since 2022. Prior to that, he worked at Alabama from 2017-2022, where he served as the executive deputy director of athletics, chief operating officer and chief revenue officer. Check out some of the highlights from Batt's introductory press conference or watch the complete video of the press conference below: Highlights Batt noted that Michigan State football succeeding is a huge priority for him and the athletic department as a whole. Batt said "Michigan State is not only positioned to survive, but it is positioned to take ground." Batt considers Michigan State as a top-10 athletic department in the country. Batt promised during the press conference that "we will provide Jonathan Smith with the resources he needs to be successful." Batt talked about the importance of NIL during the press conference, stating Michigan State is going to be successful at "championship levels" and they'll have a united plan to move forward Full Video Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Army major on trial for rape charges involving more than a dozen women
An Army major charged with sexually assaulting or raping more than a dozen women over a four-year period in the Washington, D.C., area began this week at Fort Meade, Maryland. Maj. Jonathan Batt faces 63 accusations, which include 10 specifications of rape and 15 sexual assault charges against 17 women, according to the Army's Office of Special Trial Counsel. Batt also faces charges of aggravated assault, battery, obstruction of justice and abusive sexual contact. Batt has pleaded not guilty to all charges, his civilian attorney Nathan Freeburg told Stars and Stripes. The major was charged in October with 76 violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice against 20 women. Some of the charges were dropped prior to trial because some of the victims declined to participate in the proceedings, Michelle McCaskill, spokeswoman for the Office of Special Trial Counsel, told Stars and Stripes. Army officer faces rape, sexual assault charges involving 20 victims Court documents show that Batt is accused of a variety of sexual and aggravated assaults on women in Arlington, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., between 2019 and 2023, Stripes reported. Some women allege Batt choked them until they were unconscious before he raped them. Other women allege he used sex toys on the women against their will and bit and slapped them without consent. His obstruction of justice charge stems from an allegation that he told one person not to speak with 'someone posing as a police officer' about 'sexual allegations that some women are making against me,' Stripes reported. Batt graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York in 2007. He was commissioned as an infantry officer and has served with the 82nd Airborne Division, 5th Ranger Training Brigade, the 3rd Infantry Division and the 75th Ranger Regiment. Batt served four combat tours in Afghanistan and was previously assigned to the Defense Department's Joint Artificial Intelligence Center in Crystal City, Virginia. The trial is expected to last until June 27, McCaskill told Stripes.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
Michigan State losing senior associate athletic director to the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars
Michigan State losing senior associate athletic director to the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars Michigan State has their new head man to run the athletic department, poaching away J Batt from Georgia Tech. He will now be tasked with rebuilding the Spartans athletic department in the way he sees it in his vision. With the new look for Spartan athletics incoming under Batt, there is surely going to be more personnel changes within the department. With changes being anticipated, some within the department are already finding their next positions. One executive member of MSU's athletic department is heading to the NFL. Jon Dykema has accepted a position with the Jacksonville Jaguars front office. After spending 14 years with the Detroit Lions organization, working with contracts, negotiations and salary cap structure, Dykema spent time with Michigan State as Executive Senior Associate AD/Student-Athlete Management and Assistant General Counsel. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on X @Cory_Linsner
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Georgia Tech athletic director J Batt accepts job at Michigan State
Georgia Tech Vice President and Director of Athletics J Batt has accepted a position with Michigan State University. The schools confirmed on Monday that Batt will serve as vice president and director of Intercollegiate Athletics in Lansing. Advertisement [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Georgia Tech says it will begin a national search for its next athletic director. 'J has made a remarkable impact in a short time,' said Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera. 'His vision and leadership elevated our athletics program — on the field, in the classroom, and across the national landscape. From fundraising and facilities to academic and competitive success, his legacy will be felt for years to come.' This is a developing story. We'll have the latest reaction on Channel 2 Action News. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
USA Today
3 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
Michigan State expected to hire J Batt as next athletic director
Michigan State expected to hire J Batt as next athletic director Show Caption Hide Caption Tom Izzo feels 'reinvigorated' by Elite Eight run, MSU basketball MSU head coach Tom Izzo fell to 8-3 in Elite Eight games in a night that was all Auburn from the start in March Madness, March 30, 2025 in Atlanta. One month after a change in leadership, Michigan State University has found its new athletic director. Jason "J" Batt, currently in the same role at Georgia Tech, is expected to be announced as the new AD in East Lansing on Monday, June 2, according to a source familiar with the search process. Though full contract terms remain to be signed, the 43-year-old will receive around $1.8 million per year in base salary. MSU also will pay Georgia Tech a little over $2 million to buy out the remainder of the contract, which runs through 2029 and that he signed in December. Batt's contract extension with Georgia Tech gave him an initial annual base salary of $979,000 for 2025, according to documents, and raises of $100,000 per year over the next four years. He also earns $271,000 in supplemental salary for a total of $1.25 million. More: NCAA issues notice of violations for Michigan State football from Mel Tucker era In his time in Atlanta, Batt helped generate nearly $300 million toward a $500 million "Full Steam Ahead" fundraising effort that began after he was hired in October 2022. That will go toward renovating Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field, which is the Yellow Jackets' home football stadium, along with improvements to the school's basketball center and volleyball gymnasium. Batt also in November was appointed chairman of the College Football Hall of Fame, which is based in Atlanta. Previously, Batt served as executive deputy director of athletics, chief operating officer and chief revenue officer at Alabama over five years (2017-22). In 2021, he was named to the Sports Business Journal's "Forty Under 40" list for helping spearhead a 10-year, $600 million fundraising effort to improve facilities in Tuscaloosa. 'You have to love the enterprise and love how you can help people,' Batt told the publication in 2021. 'I still believe that most people give to help others, not to see their name on a building.' In December, MSU approved a three-phase plan to modernize Spartan Stadium, home of the football team. That includes $28 million in improvements as well as "an authorization to plan for the future modernization of the stadium." Batt was senior associate athletic director at East Carolina (2013-17) and spent four years at Maryland (2009-13), according to his Yellow Jackets bio. Batt − who was born in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, and grew up in Charlottesville, Virginia − was on the men's soccer team at North Carolina during its 2001 NCAA championship and worked in fundraising at his alma mater as well as James Madison and William & Mary. While at UNC, he earned an undergraduate degree in journalism and mass communications and later a master's degree in sports administration. New MSU president Kevin Guskiewicz was chancellor at UNC from 2019-24. Alan Haller was forced out as MSU AD on May 1 after three-plus years in the role. MORE: Jonathan Smith buyout to leave MSU football sliced in half with dismissal of AD Follow the Detroit Free Press on Instagram (@detroitfreepress), TikTok (@detroitfreepress), YouTube (@DetroitFreePress), X (@freep), and LinkedIn, and like us on Facebook (@detroitfreepress). Stay connected and stay informed. Become a Detroit Free Press subscriber. Submit a letter to the editor at and we may publish it online or in print.
