Latest news with #EastLansing
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Michigan State athletic director J Batt says he's leading a top-10 department in college sports
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — J Batt said Michigan State has a top-10 athletic department in the country. The school's next athletic director made it clear that the football program must lead the way to make his statement ring true. The Spartans have been shaky in recent years in the sport that pays the bills in college athletics, losing seven games last year in coach Jonathan Smith's debut season. 'It comes down to resources and across the board, we will provide him and his staff with resources,' Batt said Wednesday when he was formally introduced. Batt left Georgia Tech, where he was its athletic director since the fall of 2022, to take on the challenge of raising money and turning around a football program in the highly competitive Big Ten. The university's Board of Trustees, which approved the selection, is scheduled to vote on Batt's hiring on June 13 and his first day on the job is June 16. Batt replaces Alan Haller, whose last day was May 11. Batt helped Georgia Tech bounce back in football. He hired coach Brent Key, who led the program to consecutive bowl games for the first time in a decade and earned a spot in The Associated Press Top 25 for the first time in nine years. In Batt's first season at Georgia Tech, 14 of 17 teams were in a postseason tournament. Before leading Georgia Tech's athletic department, he was executive deputy athletic director at Alabama and served as chief operating officer and chief revenue officer in the athletic department. Izzo reached out to his friend, former Alabama and Michigan State coach Nick Saban, as part of the school's search. 'Nick had great comments about him,' Izzo said. Batt recalled Saban speaking so fondly about Michigan State. 'He's always been so positive about this place,' Batt said. Batt also worked in athletics at East Carolina, Maryland, James Madison, William & Mary and North Carolina, where he played on the 2011 national championship soccer team. Batt is regarded as a strong fundraiser, an asset for any athletic department in this era of college athletics. At Michigan State, his top priorities will be to raise money and help the football program win. Universities will be allowed to share up to $20.5 million in revenue with athletes next year. Direct payments will be in addition to third-party name, image and likeness deals facilitated by school-affiliated collectives. 'We're going to be extremely successful and competitive in that space,' Batt said. ___ AP college sports:
CBS News
3 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Raising Cane's opening Ann Arbor location this summer
Months after opening its first Metro Detroit location, Raising Cane's is opening another store in the Southeast region, this time in Ann Arbor. The company says the location at 1116 S. University Ave. Unit B will open this summer, but the official date has not been announced. The restaurant opened a new location on Ford Road in Canton back in February. The only other Michigan location is in East Lansing. On Feb. 4, hundreds gathered outside the Canton location for its official opening. People waited there for hours before the 10 a.m. opening, some with lawn chairs and many of them in winter coats, given the weather. The company announced a promotion to celebrate the opening, with swag gifts for the first ones in line and a drawing for a card that provided a free combo meal three times a month. Due to the influx of people, Canton police directed traffic and alerted residents of heavy traffic that day. Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers started in 1996 in Louisiana. In 2024, the company opened a total of 118 restaurants. NOTE: The video above previously aired on Feb. 4, 2025.
Reuters
4 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Michigan State hires J Batt as athletic director
June 2 - Michigan State announced the hiring of J Batt as the Spartans' new athletic director on Monday. Batt has held that same position at Georgia Tech since 2022 after serving as deputy AD at Alabama (2017-22) and associate AD at East Carolina (2013-17). "J has an impressive record at several Power 5 schools and an impeccable reputation as a strong and innovative leader," school president Kevin 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." Batt's tenure in East Lansing will begin the week of June 16, following confirmation by the board of trustees at its June 13 meeting. Batt, 43, will receive a six-year contract worth more than $1.5 million annually and a buyout of more than $1 million, according to The Detroit News. "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. "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." Spartans men's basketball coach and current co-interim AD Tom Izzo praised the hiring. "This is a key moment in the history of Michigan State Athletics," Izzo said. "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 replaces Alan Haller, who was relieved of his duties on May 1 after less than four years in the position. --Field Level Media
CBS News
4 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Michigan State University names J Batt as new athletic director
Michigan State University on Monday named J Batt as its new vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics. Batt has served as the vice president and director of athletics at Georgia Tech since 2022. He replaces Alan Haller, who announced on May 1 that he was leaving the university. "J has an impressive record at several Power 5 schools and an impeccable reputation as a strong and innovative leader," said MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz in a news release. "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." MSU's Board of Trustees will vote on Batt's contract and appointment at its June 13 meeting. Batt will start the week of June 16. "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. "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." During Batt's tenure with Georgia Tech's athletic department, the school has broken records for athletic fundraising, achieved a 94% graduation rate and renovated and built several athletic facilities. Georgia Tech's football team also earned back-to-back bowl berths for the first time since 2013-14 and made its first appearance in the Associated Press Top 25 poll in nine years. Batt also serves on the House Settlement Implementation Committee and is chair of the College Football Hall of Fame. "This is a key moment in the history of Michigan State Athletics," said men's basketball head coach and current co-interim director of athletics Tom 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." Before his time at Georgia Tech, Batt served as executive deputy director of athletics, chief operating officer and chief revenue officer for the University of Alabama from 2017-22. He also held roles at East Carolina University, the University of Maryland, James Madison University, William & Mary and the University of North Carolina. Batt earned a bachelor's degree in journalism and mass communications and a master's degree in sports administration from North Carolina, where he was a member of the 2001 NCAA championship men's soccer squad.
USA Today
29-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Michigan State tennis star named All-American for third straight year
Michigan State tennis star named All-American for third straight year Ozan Baris remains at the top of the collegiate tennis game. In case you didn't know, Michigan State tennis has an absolute star on its roster. Ozan Baris has been near the top of the collegiate tennis world since he first showed up to East Lansing, and he hasn't slowed down. On Wednesday, it was announced that Baris is an ITA (Intercollegiate Tennis Association) All-American for the third straight year. The ITA grants All-American honors to student-athletes that advanced to the round of 16 at the NCAA Individual Championships, or who finished in the last top 20 of the ITA singles rankings (which were published last week). Baris accomplished both this year. Michigan State tennis now has seven All-Americans in their history, and Baris accounts for three of those, making him the most accomplished MSU tennis star in program history. The Spartans went 17-10 this season and made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year. They had not reached the tournament since head coach Harry Jadun was a sophomore back in 2012-13. Most impressively, Baris made it to the title match of the NCAA Individual Championships last fall, where he was the runner-up, losing to National Champion Michael Zheng of Columbia. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Andrew Brewster on Twitter @IAmBrewster.
