Latest news with #MichiganState
USA Today
6 hours 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.
USA Today
6 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
MSU's newest commit, 3-star LB Braylon Hodge reportedly cancels remaining official visits
MSU's newest commit, 3-star LB Braylon Hodge reportedly cancels remaining official visits Michigan State picked up a commitment from a prized linebacker prospect on Sunday, and it appears he is locked in with the Spartans for the long haul. High-end three-star linebacker Braylon Hodge of Englewood, Colo. committed to Michigan State on Sunday afternoon following his official visit to the Spartans' campus. As part of that commitment, Justin Thind of 247Sports is reporting that Hodge will cancel his other previously scheduled official visits to Iowa, Utah and Minnesota. Thind considered this as "impressive" on the Spartans' part and added that Hodge's commitment was a "great start to June" for Michigan State. Hodge ranks as the No. 45 linebacker in the 2026 class, according to 247Sports. He holds a recruiting rating of 88 -- which is close to being a four-star prospect -- and is a top player in the state of Colorado. Like Thind, I found this additional report on the cancelling of Hodge's other official visits as notable. This was the first official visit Hodge took, and with no other official visits planned now, it seems like Michigan State will be in a great position to retain this commitment all the way to signing day in December. 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.
CBS News
6 hours ago
- Business
- CBS News
Michigan State president advises board to hire Georgia Tech's J Batt as athletic director, AP source says
Michigan State University President Kevin Guskiewicz is recommending the school's board of trustees hire J Batt as athletic director, a person familiar with the situation told the Associated Press. The person spoke to AP on condition of anonymity Sunday because the president's hopes of hiring the Georgia Tech athletic director had not been announced. Michigan State is expected to announce Batt is Guskiewicz's pick as soon as Monday, the person said. With the help of Hall of Fame basketball coach Tom Izzo and Deputy Athletic Director Jennifer Smith, the school has been searching for an athletic director for a month. MSU announced last month that Alan Haller would be leaving the position. His last day as athletic director was May 11. Batt has been Georgia Tech's athletic director since the fall of 2022. He hired football coach Brent Key, who has led the program to consecutive winning seasons after a string of four losing seasons in a row. He also hired Damon Stoudamire to coach the basketball team and the former NBA player was .500 last season in his second year. Previously, Batt was executive deputy athletics director at Alabama and served as chief operating officer and chief revenue officer in the athletic department. Batt is regarded as a strong fundraiser, an asset for any athletic department in this era of college athletics. He guided the launch of a 10-year, $600 million fundraising campaign to benefit Crimson Tide athletics. He helped raise $78.2 million for athletics in his first fiscal year at Georgia Tech to surpass the previous single-year mark by more than 40%. At Michigan State, his top priorities will be to raise money and help the football program win — perhaps in that order. 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. Under Haller, the Spartans won Big Ten championships in men's basketball, women's soccer, women's gymnastics, men's hockey and women's cross country. In 2024, MSU student-athletes recorded the highest cumulative GPA in athletic department history with a 3.4324. Michigan State, though, has had three straight losing seasons in football. The Spartans were 5-7 overall and 3-6 in the Big Ten in coach Jonathan Smith's first year and expectations for them are modest in his second season. Haller, a Lansing, Michigan, native, was appointed vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics in September 2021. Note: The above video first aired on May 1, 2025.
USA Today
7 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Spartan legacy linebacker chooses to commit to Rutgers before taking MSU official visit
Michigan State football recently got into the recruitment of a legacy recruit, looking to make a splash and a play on a linebacker with ties to the university. Adam Shaw, the son of former Spartan All-American Scott Shaw, was the prospect on the Spartans radar. Unfortunately, the Spartans aren't going to get a real crack at the legacy prospect, after Shaw has made his commitment to Rutgers, cancelling his other official visits. Shaw is a native of Hillsdale, New Jersey, and made his decision to stay with the in-state Scarlet Knights over offers from Pitt and MSU. He is an 88-rated 3-star by 247Sports, being recruited as a linebacker, standing at 6'3" and weighing 205 pounds. It is unfortunate that Spartans are not going to get a chance with the legacy recruit, with having an official visit be such a massive part of the recruiting process, but Rutgers got the first crack at the prospect and landed their shot. Lessening the blow, Michigan State landed the commitment of 3-star linebacker Braylon Hodge on Sunday afternoon, gaining a massive addition at the linebacker position. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle 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
Fox Sports
7 hours ago
- Business
- Fox Sports
Michigan State president advises board to hire Georgia Tech AD J Batt
Michigan State University President Kevin Guskiewicz is recommending the school's board of trustees hire J Batt as athletic director, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Sunday because the president's hopes of hiring the Georgia Tech athletic director had not been announced. Michigan State is expected to announce Batt as Guskiewicz's pick as soon as Monday, the person said. With the help of Hall of Fame basketball coach Tom Izzo, the school has been searching for an athletic director for a month. Alan Haller's last day as athletic director was May 11. Batt has been Georgia Tech's athletic director since the fall of 2022. He hired football coach Brent Key, who has led the program to consecutive winning seasons after a string of four losing seasons in a row. He also hired Damon Stoudamire to coach the basketball team and the former NBA player was .500 last season in his second year. Previously, Batt was executive deputy athletics director at Alabama and served as chief operating officer and chief revenue officer in the athletic department. Batt is regarded as a strong fundraiser, an asset for any athletic department in this era of college athletics. He guided the launch of a 10-year, $600 million fundraising campaign to benefit Crimson Tide athletics. He helped raise $78.2 million for athletics in his first fiscal year at Georgia Tech to surpass the previous single-year mark by more than 40%. At Michigan State, his top priorities will be to raise money and help the football program win — perhaps in that order. 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. Under Haller, the Spartans won Big Ten championships in men's basketball, women's soccer, women's gymnastics, men's hockey and women's cross country. Michigan State, though, has had three straight losing seasons in football. The Spartans were 5-7 overall and 3-6 in the Big Ten in coach Jonathan Smith's first year and expectations for them are modest in his second season. Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily ! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience College Football Michigan State Spartans Big Ten recommended Get more from College Football Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
