J Batt
 Batt in 2025 | |
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Athletic Director |
| Team | Kentucky |
| Conference | SEC |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | October 30, 1981 Champaign, Illinois, U.S. |
| Education | 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 director of athletics for the University of Kentucky. He succeeded Mitch Barnhart, who retired 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
[edit]Batt was born December 30, 1981 in Champaign, Illinois and was raised in Charlottesville, Virginia.[6] Batt was a backup goalie at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where the team won a national championship in 2001.[7]
Career
[edit]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, College Park, 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] and officially took office on July 28.[12]
References
[edit]- ↑ Crawford, Eric (June 15, 2026). "Kentucky names Michigan State's J Batt athletics director, CEO of Champions Blue". WDRB. Retrieved June 16, 2026.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Thamel, Pete (December 3, 2024). "Ga. Tech gives AD Batt new 5-year deal". ESPN. Retrieved January 11, 2025.
- ↑ Fortuna, Matt. "Georgia Tech hires J Batt as new athletic director". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 11, 2025.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "Batt Appointed as Chairman of College Football Hall of Fame". Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. November 15, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
- ↑ "J Batt | Lead1 Association". Lead1 Association. Archived from the original on May 16, 2025. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
- ↑ "Michigan State fires coach Jonathan Smith after two seasons". ESPN. November 30, 2025. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "J Batt named CEO of Champions Blue, Director of UK Athletics". Kentucky Wildcats Athletics (Press release). June 15, 2026. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
- ↑ "J Batt set to begin tenure at UK" (Press release). Kentucky Wildcats. July 9, 2026. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
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