J Batt

J Batt

Batt in 2025
Current position
Title	Athletic director
Team	Kentucky
Conference	SEC
Biographical details
Born	(1981-10-30) October 30, 1981 (age 44) Champaign, Illinois, U.S.
Alma mater	North Carolina
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
2005	North Carolina (graduate assistant)
2005–2007	William and Mary (title)
2007–2009	James Madison (director of major gifts for athletics)
2009–2013	Maryland (executive director of the Terrapin Club)
2013–2017	East Carolina (associate AD)
2017–2022	Alabama (deputy AD)
2022–2025	Georgia Tech
2025–2026	Michigan State
2026–present	Kentucky

Jason "J" Batt is the incoming director of athletics for the University of Kentucky. He will succeed Mitch Barnhart, who is retiring on June 30, 2026 after 24 years in the role. ^[1] He previously served as athletic director for the Georgia Institute of Technology and Michigan State ^{[2] [3]} . He also served as deputy athletic director for the University of Alabama and associate athletic director for East Carolina University. ^{[4] [5]}

Early life

Batt was born December 30, 1981 in Champaign, Illinois and was raised in Charlottesville, Virginia. ^[6] Batt played college soccer at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he won a national championship in 2001. ^[7]

Career

During Batt's 20 years in collegiate athletics, he averages working two and a half years at each institution, having also spent time employed at the University of Maryland, James Madison University, the College of William & Mary, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. ^[8]

On November 30, 2025, following a 4–8 season that left the Spartans ineligible for a bowl game, Batt dismissed head coach Jonathan Smith, stating that the program had not met its “shared standards.” ^[9] Later that day, Batt hired former Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald to lead the football program. ^[10]

Batt was announced as the new athletic director at the University of Kentucky on June 15, 2026. ^[11]

References

1. Crawford, Eric (June 15, 2026). "Kentucky names Michigan State's J Batt athletics director, CEO of Champions Blue". WDRB . Retrieved June 16, 2026.
2. "J Batt Heads to Michigan State After Record-Setting Tenure | News Center". Georgia Tech News Center (news.gatech.edu). June 2, 2025. Retrieved June 2, 2025. J Batt, Georgia Tech's vice president and director of Athletics since October 2022, has accepted the position of vice president and director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Michigan State University.
3. Solari, Chris (June 2, 2025). "Michigan State hires J Batt as athletic director during pivotal moment in college sports". Detroit Free Press . Retrieved June 2, 2025.
4. Thamel, Pete (December 3, 2024). "Ga. Tech gives AD Batt new 5-year deal". ESPN . Retrieved January 11, 2025.
5. Fortuna, Matt. "Georgia Tech hires J Batt as new athletic director". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved January 11, 2025.
6. Couch, Graham. "Couch: By transforming MSU Athletics, J Batt hopes to build a sustainable enterprise — and winning football". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
7. "Batt Appointed as Chairman of College Football Hall of Fame". Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. November 15, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
8. "J Batt | Lead1 Association". Lead1 Association. Archived from the original on May 16, 2025. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
9. "Michigan State fires coach Jonathan Smith after two seasons". ESPN. November 30, 2025. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
10. Solari, Chris; Couch, Graham (November 30, 2025). "Michigan State plans to hire Pat Fitzgerald as next football coach". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
11. "J Batt named CEO of Champions Blue, Director of UK Athletics". Kentucky Wildcats Athletics (Press release). June 15, 2026. Retrieved June 15, 2026.