Email sent to MSU employees, current students, alums and donors
Spartan community,
It is with great enthusiasm that I share a significant and exciting development for Michigan State University.
Following a national search, I am pleased to announce the appointment of J Batt as the next director of athletics at Michigan State University. J is a visionary leader with a strong record of success, a deep commitment to student-athlete development and a passion for building championship-caliber programs rooted in integrity and academic excellence.
Michigan State Athletics is on the rise. Over the past year, our teams have delivered powerful performances and achieved notable success across the board. From Big Ten championships in men’s basketball, women’s gymnastics and men’s hockey to historic NCAA tournament appearances in multiple sports, our teams, athletes and department staff continue to represent MSU with pride on the national stage. This spring, our student-athletes posted a cumulative GPA of 3.3744, the highest in department history. Our collective Spartan spirit has never been stronger.
These accomplishments reflect the resilience, drive and dedication that define Spartan Nation — and they form a strong foundation for even greater success in the years to come.
J Batt brings to East Lansing a powerful combination of strategic leadership and deep collegiate athletics experience. At Georgia Tech, he led unprecedented growth in both fundraising and facilities development, and prior to that, as a senior athletics administrator at the University of Alabama, he was instrumental in building national championship programs and elevating student-athlete support systems.
J is committed to excellence in every dimension of the student-athlete experience: competitive success, academic achievement, personal development and community engagement. His vision aligns seamlessly with our institutional values and our shared commitment to integrity, equity and the holistic development of all who wear the Green and White.
As we welcome J Batt and his family into the Spartan community, I want to express my deep gratitude to co-interim athletic directors Jen Smith and Tom Izzo for their leadership during this transitional period and for their continued contributions to MSU.
Together, with J’s leadership, we look ahead to a future defined by unity, excellence and a relentless pursuit of greatness — on the field, in the classroom and in the world.
Go Green. Go White.
Sincerely,
Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D.
President
Professor, Department of Kinesiology