Latest news with #TomIzzo
USA Today
2 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.
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Business
- Washington Post
Michigan State president advises board to hire Georgia Tech athletic director J Batt, AP source says
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 is 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. ___ AP college sports:
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Michigan State president advises board to hire Georgia Tech athletic director J Batt, AP source says
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. Advertisement 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, 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. ___ AP college sports:
Newsweek
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Tom Izzo, Michigan State Receive Head-Turning 2025-26 Prediction
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Michigan State Spartans and head coach Tom Izzo put together a strong 2024-25 season. When all was said and done, they finished with a 30-7 record. Entering the NCAA Tournament, Michigan State was given a No. 2 seed. Izzo was able to lead his team past No. 15 Bryant in the first round, No. 10 New Mexico in the second round, and No. 6 Ole Miss in the Sweet 16. Unfortunately, the Spartans were unable to beat No. 1 Auburn. Despite losing in the Elite Eight, it was a successful season for Michigan State. Izzo and company have a bright outlook for the future. Coach Tom Izzo's Michigan State Spartans are slight favorites in Friday's Sweet 16 clash with Ole Miss. Coach Tom Izzo's Michigan State Spartans are slight favorites in Friday's Sweet 16 clash with Ole how bright of an outlook do they have? It's still very early, but the Spartans have received a strong prediction for next year. Read more: Former 4-Time NBA All-Star Unveils Shocking Mavericks, Cooper Flagg Take ESPN has released a new bracketology update. In that update, Michigan State was projected to be a No. 4 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. That would suggest the Spartans being a potential championship contender once again. Of course, these projections don't mean much. But, they do show a bright outlook and a national feel for what Michigan State is capable of being. As long as Izzo is the Spartans' head coach, they are always going to have a chance. He has put together one of the best careers of all time from a college coach. Throughout his tenure with Michigan State, which began all the way back in the 1995-96 season, Izzo has led the program to an impressive 737-302 record, which is good enough for a 70.9 winning percentage. He has also won a national championship that came back in 1999-2000 and has led six Final Four runs. Read more: Shaq Fuels Rigged NBA Draft Lottery System Theory With Wild Story Prior to last season's March Madness run, Izzo was asked about his future and potential retirement. He made it clear that he's not thinking about that right now. "I don't believe you have to retire on a high note," he said. For now, the Spartans remain a team to keep a very close eye on heading into the 2025-26 season. Back in April, ESPN also took a look at an early top-25 ranking for all teams in college basketball. Michigan State landed at No. 21 in those rankings. The Spartans have some work to do, but Izzo leading the way should give fans and the team a lot of confidence. For more college basketball news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Miami Guard Divine Ugochukwu Announces Transfer Portal Decision
Former Miami Hurricanes guard Divine Ugochukwu committed to Tom Izzo and the Michigan State Spartans out of the transfer portal on Sunday according to a report from Sam Kayser of League Ready. Ugochukwu becomes the fifth former Cane to land at a power conference program out of the portal, joining Nijel Pack (Oklahoma), Jalil Bethea (Alabama), AJ Staton-McCray (Seton Hall), and Austin Swartz (Creighton). Advertisement Xander Alarie (Northeastern) is the other Miami transfer to commit, while Paul Djobet and Kiree Huie remain uncommitted as of this writing. Ugochukwu appeared in 28 games as a true freshman last year for Miami, starting 16 contests and averaging 5.3 points, 2.3 assists, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game. Despite relatively pedestrian numbers, the 6'3 guard was highly sought after in the transfer portal thanks to his considerable upside. Ugochukwu displayed high levels of efficiency, shooting 61% on two point attempts, and his playmaking and facilitation skills should fit quite nicely in coach Izzo's offense. Advertisement Miami has been hard at work rebuilding a brand new roster under first year head coach Jai Lucas, which includes transfer additions Tre Donaldson (Michigan), Malik Reneau (Indiana), Tru Washington (New Mexico), Ernest Udeh (TCU), Marcus Allen (Missouri) and Jordyn Kee (Georgia). The team has also added a trio of incoming freshmen including Shelton Henderson, a four-star small forward who was committed to Duke before Lucas left the Blue Devils for Miami. Four-star guard Dante Allen and Slovakian forward Timotej Malovec round out the newcomers for the 'Canes at this point in the offseason. Related: Gonzaga Target and WCC Leading Scorer Malik Thomas Announces Transfer Portal Decision
