All articles tagged with #athletics director
Virginia Tech named Brian White as vice president and director of athletics to lead its 22-sport program in a rapidly evolving landscape; a two-decade veteran most recently at Florida Atlantic, White helped FAU secure a conference move, bolster fundraising, and land major sponsorship deals, and will start June 24 to succeed Whit Babcock.
J Batt explains that his nickname 'J' started in third grade to avoid confusion with two other Jasons, a moniker he kept through college at UNC where he was a goalkeeper on the 2001 national championship team, and into his professional career. He’s set to begin his Kentucky athletics leadership role on July 1 and says he plans to be highly visible and engage with fans across the Big Blue Nation.
J Batt will become Kentucky's athletics director and CEO of Champions Blue LLC after leaving Michigan State following a chaotic year that included the president's resignation to Clemson and public accusations of a dysfunctional board, prompting Batt to pursue a more stable leadership role at UK.
Mitch Barnhart will retire as the University of Kentucky's athletics director on June 30 and will not take the proposed Executive in Residence post for the UK Sports and Workforce Initiative, a position that would have paid about $950,000 annually through 2030 funded by private sources; the plan was officially reversed on Thursday amid criticism from Gov. Beshear and others, with UK President Capilouto saying the focus should stay on students and the Commonwealth.
With Mitch Barnhart retiring after 24 years, Kentucky is launching a national search for his successor, spotlighting a 'hot board' of potential AD candidates—including Greg Byrne, Mark Coyle, Marc Hill, Rob Mullens, Martin Newton, DeWayne Peevy, and Scott Stricklin—each bringing a mix of Kentucky ties and SEC leadership experience.
Chris Park has been appointed as the new Executive Associate Athletics Director for External Affairs and Chief Communications Officer at Ohio State University, bringing extensive experience from Baylor, Texas A&M, and Washington State to enhance the university's athletic communications, branding, and strategic storytelling efforts.
Fernando Lovo has been appointed as the new Director of Athletics at the University of Colorado Boulder, succeeding Rick George, with a background of successful athletic and administrative leadership at the University of New Mexico and other institutions, and will start his role on January 1, 2026.
John Hartwell resigned as Louisiana-Monroe's athletics director after 18 months due to budget issues, with no confirmed plans to join Troy, where he previously served as AD. His departure is part of ongoing financial challenges at ULM, and the school is planning a replacement.
Georgia Tech has appointed Ryan Alpert, a seasoned athletics executive with extensive experience in revenue generation and strategic planning, as its new vice president and director of athletics, aiming to elevate its athletic programs and compete at the highest levels.
Michigan State University has appointed J Batt, currently at Georgia Tech, as its new vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics, aiming to elevate Spartan athletics through his extensive experience and leadership in college sports.
Jeremiah Donati has been appointed as the new Director of Athletics at the University of South Carolina, succeeding Ray Tanner. Donati previously served as the Athletics Director at Texas Christian University, where he achieved significant success, including multiple national championships and conference titles. He aims to continue building on the success of Gamecock Athletics by focusing on competitive excellence and enhancing the student-athlete experience.
Desiree Reed-Francois has left the University of Missouri for the same position at Arizona, leaving a considerable hole in the athletics department. A search for her replacement is set to begin immediately, with seven potential candidates being considered, including individuals with past ties to Missouri sports and experience in athletics administration at other universities. The hiring process and potential candidates will be closely watched as Mizzou seeks its next athletics director.
University of Missouri athletics director Desiree Reed-Francois is leaving to take the same job at the University of Arizona after less than three years at MU, where she was credited with generating momentum, hiring coaches, and securing a record $62 million donation. Her departure comes amid the establishment of an oversight committee to monitor Mizzou Athletics, and she will reportedly receive a $1 million per year salary at Arizona, a pay cut from her previous $1.25 million.
Beth Goetz's contract as the University of Iowa's athletics director is a five-year deal with an annual guaranteed base salary of $850,000, along with additional deferred compensation and performance-based bonuses. She is the 13th AD in school history and the only female AD in the Big Ten, succeeding longtime athletics director Gary Barta. Her contract runs from Jan. 18, 2024, to Jan. 17, 2029, and includes bonuses for academic and athletic achievements.
Beth Goetz has been named the permanent athletics director at the University of Iowa after serving as interim AD since August 2022. She received widespread support from coaches and colleagues, with a five-year contract and a base salary of $850,000 plus incentives and deferred compensation. Goetz is the only woman currently serving as an athletics director in the Big Ten and the first woman to be AD at Iowa since 1973. Her appointment concludes an official search process that began late last year, with TurnkeyZRG conducting the search.